Historical Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society

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JEREMIAH STONE, M. D

THE

HISTORICAL

COLLECTIONS

OF THE

TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOL. XVI

191 1

TOPSFIELD, MASS.
Published by the Society

GEORGE FRANCIS DOW

Editor

THE MERRILL PRESS

MASS.

CONTENTS.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE YEAR

ENDING DEC. 3 1, 1910 ----- v

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE YEAR

ENDING DEC. 3 1, 191O ----- vii

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD, WITH SOME ACCOUNT

OF EARLY MEDICAL PRACTICE, BY HENRY FOL-

LANSBEE LONG, Portraits , 1

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS, BY GEORGE

FRANCIS DOW, - 34

THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD, BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE

LONG, -------- 50

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM N. CLEAVELAND, 57
TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE TAKEN

ABOUT 1868, Portraits , - - - - - 61

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD, COPIED

by George Francis DOW, Continued , - - 65

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF TOPSFIELD,

COPIED BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG, Continued , 1 45
TOPSFIELD VITAL STATISTICS, 19IO, - - - - 1 65

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, 191O, - 168

BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED, 191O, - - - - 1 68

ANNUAL REPORT

OF THE SECRETARY OF THE

TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 3 1, 191O.

The membership of the society on December 31, 1910, was
252. Only four new members have been elected during the
year, while one has resigned and five have been removed by
death : — Henry W. Lake, a charter member and at the time
of his death a director of the society; Mrs. Jennie Hood
Bosson of Reading, whose genealogy of the Hood family was
printed in the last volume of our Historical Collections ; Miss
Anna S. Lamson of Topsfield ; Fred A. Phelps of Laconia,
N. H., and David Cummings of Boston. Mr. Cummings
executed a will on Oct. 8, 1907 and when it was offered for
probate on April 25, 1910 it was found that the sum of two
thousand dollars had been given to this society together with
an interest in the residue probably amounting to a like sum.
This generous bequest makes it possible for the society
to acquire a permanent home and having in view the
possible ownership of real property, incorporation under the
laws of Massachusetts was effected at a meeting held Septem-
ber 2nd, and at the same meeting a committee was appointed
to ascertain on what terms the Capen house, so called,
might be secured as a permanent home for the Society,
thereby preserving for later generations one of the most
interesting of the 17th century dwellings yet remaining in
Essex County. After conference, however, it was found
that the present owner declined to sell the property and the
terms under which the house might be leased for a period of
five years seemed so disadvantageous that it seems necessary
to abandon the proposed plan. No other building of recog-
nized antiquity now remains in town that is worthy of con-
sideration in this connection and if the plan of acquiring

VI

permanent quarters is to be followed out it necessarily must
be along other lines. In the not distant future it will be an
imperative necessity to provide enlarged quarters for the
Topsfield Town Library and should a library building be
erected, no doubt some arrangement could be made whereby
the society would be provided with suitable rooms and the
financial details arranged with mutual advantage.

Volume 14 of the Historical Collections has been distrib-
uted during the year and Volume 15 is about ready to be
sent to the binder. Four meetings have been held at which
papers have been read by Henry F. Long and the Secretary.

Respectfully submitted,

George Francis Dow,

Secretary.

VII

REPORT OF THE TREASURER
OF THE TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FOR THE YEAR ENDING DEC. 3 1, I91O
RECEIPTS

I9IO

Jan. I, Balance on hand, $147 7 5

Dec. 31, Hist. Colls, sold, 13 00

“ Annual dues, 100 50

“ Binding Hist. Colls. 25 20

1910
Dec. 31,

$286 75

PAYMENTS

Printing Vol. 14 (balance), $ 45 40
Engraving “ 2 40

Binding “ 30 42

Printing Vol. 15, 54 41

Fee for incorporating, 5 00

Deficit, transportation (Wellman), 460
Postals, 1 80

Balance, 142 72

$286 75

Jan. 2, 1 9 1 1 , Balance cash on hand, $142 72
THE BUILDING FUND

1910

Jan. 1, Amount on hand,

(Salem Savings Bank), $781 80

Interest one year, 31 56

$813 36

Respectfully submitted,

George Francis Dow,

Examined and approved, Treasurer.

C. J. Peabody,

J. H. Towne.

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD, WITH SOME
ACCOUNT OF EARLY MEDICAL
PRACTICE.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

In the early days of New England there was no distinct
class of men following the profession of medicine, but the
practice was taken up in connection with some other call-
ing. In every community either the minister or the school-
master or some skilled nurse was expected to act in cases
of need. In taking care of the sick, the neighborly inter-
est stood in good stead, in fact much in olden days had to
depend upon kindly neighbors. At the period when
Massachusetts was settled, medicine was an art rather than
a science.

The question of some medical man to serve them was a
matter considered deeply by the colonists. “ For many
years before the Puritans came to this country, being sub-
jected to bitter persecution, and foreseeing the possibility
of an ejectment, a considerable number of their ministers
studied medicine. They saw the probable needs of the
future, and fitted themselves, as best they could, for any
emergency that might arise in a new settlement, hence
they formed a large proportion of the early physicians of
Massachusetts.” Even to-day we see our foreign mission-
aries studying medicine as practical preparation for their

(1)

2

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

duties in a new field. This custom, in fact, is as old as
civilization itself, from the days of the ancient priests of
Egypt, Greece, and Rome, who were the ones to collect
and preserve the traditions of medicine. There is no
record that any of the early Topsfield ministers practised
medicine, but one of the early practitioners was also a
schoolmaster.

Some of the early remedies are at times amusing and
at others disgusting. Many and manifold are the reme-
dies to “chear the heart,” to “ drive melancholy,” to “cure
one pensive,” “ for the megrums,” and “ for a grief,”
and without doubt the lonely colonists often needed them.
We also learn from the old records that “ things ill for
the heart were beans, pease, sadness, onions, anger, evil
tidings, and loss of friends ; a very arbitrary and unjust
classification.” Our ancestors were troubled with insom-
nia. Here is a cure : “ Bruise a handful of anis-seeds,

and steep them in Red Rose Water and make it up in
little bags, and binde one of them to each Nostrill, and it
will cause sleep.” Among other things we learn that,
“ picking the gums with the bill of an osprey is good for
the toothache, . . . bear’s grease is good for aches and
cold swellings, ... a stone found in the head of the cod-
fish, when pulverized, stops fluxes of blood.” For fevers
it was customary to take “ two salt white herrings and
slit them down the back and bind them to the soles of the
patient’s feet.”

Another ingredient of the early doses, — unicorn’s horns
— must have been difficult to secure in New England.
John Endicott says in a letter written in 1634, “ I have
sent you Mrs. Beggarly her Unicorns home and bezar
stone.” Both the unicorn’s horn and the bezoar stone
were sovereign antidotes against poisons. In the Win-
throp Papers, in a letter to J. Winthrop, Jr., under date
of January 26, 1656, we find the following: “Lett me

tell you an easy medicine of mine owne that I have seene
do miraculous cures in all sortes of vlcers, and in knitting
soddainly broken bones . . . Beate to subtile powder one
ounce of crabbes eyes, then putt vpon it in a high glasse
foure ounces of strong wine-vinegar. It will instanely

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

3

boyle vp extremly ; lett it stand till all be quiett ; then
straine it through a fine lenon; and of this liquor (wch
will then tast like dead beere ; without any sharpnesse)
giue two spoonefuls att a time to drinke, three times a
day ; and you shall see a strange effect in a weeke or
two,” and, “ For all sortes of agewes, I haue of late tryed
the following magneticall experiment, with infallible suc-
cesse. Pare the patients nayles when the fever is coming
on ; and put the paringes into a little bagge of fine lenon
or sarsenet ; and tye that about a liue eeles necke, in a
tubbe of water. The eele will dye and the patient will
recover. And if a dog or hog eate that eele, they will
also dye.”

Little by little, however, these disgusting agents were
dropped, and in their places came the herbs and simples
of our grandmothers. The family that did not provide
itself with a plentiful supply of he bs was considered
negligent of its duties. Every housrehold had its simple
domestic remedies for common complaints, and few were
the families that did not possess some old book containing
manuscript receipts for all sorts of ordinary ailments.
Some of the more common herbs used for concoctions,
which in some cases were given without rhyme or reason
and make us wonder how the patient could possibly re-
cover, were, wormwood, tansy, yarrow, dandelion, bur-
dock, plantain, catnip, and mint (all these herbs came
here by importation), and ellicampane, angelica, gentian,
St. John’s wort, betony, and the like.

With a low standard of professional education, even
among the physicians, it was not to be expected that there
would be much general intelligence on medical matters in
the community at large. The credulity of the ignorant
was remarkable. In England the touch of the royal mon-
arch was considered to cure king’s evil and scrofula. It is
not strange, therefore, that some lingering faith in the
absurd customs should crop out in New England. In the
early days general complaint appears against the “ shoe-
makers, Weavers, and Almanack makers . . . who have
laid aside the proper Business of their Lives to turn
Quacks.”

4

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

In the early days of the Colony there had been excel-
lent opportunities, in the treatment of disease, for suc-
cessful imposition on the ignorant and unthinking, and the
quacks were not slow in availing themselves of the oppor-
tunity. In the year 1649 a law was passed which is cred-
itable to the wisdom of that time, in regulating, within
certain limits, the practice of medicine and surgery. It
was a salutary enactment, as far as it went, but it afforded
only a slight protection against the deficiencies of the pro-
fession. The tendency of the law was to confine the
profession to skilled persons. The enactment was as
follows : —

“Chirurgions, Midwives, Physitians.” “Forasmuch as
the law of God allowes no man to impaire the Life, or
Limbs of any Person, but in a judicial way : —

“ It is therefore Ordered, That no person or persons
whatsoever, employed at any time about the bodyes of
men, women or children, for preservation of life or health,
as Chirurgions, Mid wives, Physitians, or others, presume
to exercise, or put forth any act contrary to the known
approved Rules of art, in each mystery and occupation,
nor exercise any force, violence or cruelty upon, or
towards the body of any, whether young or old (no not
in the most difficult and desperate cases) without the ad-
vice and consent of such as are skillfull in the same Art,
(if such may be had) or at least some of the wisest and
gravest then present, and consent of the patient or patients
if they be mentis compotis, much less contrary to such
advice and consent ; upon such severe punishment as the
nature of the fact may deserve, which Law nevertheless
is not intended to discourage any from all lawfull use of
their skill, but rather to incourage and direct them in the
right use thereof, and inhibit and restreine the presump-
tious arrogancy of such as through presidence of their
own skill, or any other sinister aspects, dare boldly at-
tempt to exercise any violence upon or towards the bodyes
of young and old, one or other, to the prejudice or hazard
of the life or limbe of man, woman or child.”

The early practitioners of medicine had a fondness for
bleeding, and even until within a few years leeches were

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

5

generally used, and always kept on hand by apothecaries.
The ministers used to bleed and pray in all severe cases.
Then there were the barber surgeons, who wielded with
equal facility the razor and the lancet, as well as used the
jaw-breaking key on the aching teeth of their unfortunate
customers.

Many of the early ministers also played the part of
apothecary, buying drugs at wholesale and compounding
and selling medicines to their parishioners. Small wonder
that Cotton Mather, who was not the only kind-hearted
New England minister who set up to heal the body as weil
as the soul of the entire town, called the union of physc
and piety an “ Angelical Conjunction.”

It cannot be doubted that the early physicians brought
with them many old-world medical superstitions, and there
is no question but that they were more or less involved in
the prevailing errors of the community in which they
lived. But, on the whole, their record is a clean one, so
far as we can get at it, and where it is questionable, we
must remember that there must have been many poorly
educated persons among them, and that all must have felt,
to some extent, the influence of those sincere and devoted,
but unsafe men, the ph}Tsic-practising clergyman, who
often used spiritual means as a substitute for temporal
ones, and who looked upon a hysterical patient as pos-
sessed by the devil, and who treated a fractured skull by
prayers and plasters.

DR. MICHAEL DWINELL.

On a little knoll on the western side of Salem street, in
Topsfield, and a few feet north of the driveway leading
to the present old Dwinell house, may still be seen the
site of the house of Topsfield’s first recorded physician,
Michael Dwinell. At this point it may be well to men-
tion the fact that Dr. Zerubbabel Endicott, son of Gov.
John Endicott, who lived on his father’s grant of 1639,
which is now owned and occupied by Frank W. Killam, and
situated in Boxford, on the Middleton road, a short dis-
tance beyond the town line, may have practiced here. He
was connected with the Topsfield church, but was excom-

6

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

municated Dec. 24. 1693. He is frequently mentioned in
records of that early day.

Michael Dwinell was born in Topsfield, December 5,
1670, the second of nine children and the oldest son of
Michaell and Mary Dwinell. His house was taxed as a
dwelling until 1778, and afterwards was used as a barn.
The old well is still in evidence.

Michael, the father, may have come from Scotland or
Ireland, though family tradition says he came from France.
He is supposed, by some, to have been in Topsfield about
1664, though some records have it that he was a French
Huguenot who came to Topsfield “aftei the revocation of
the Edict of Nantes in 1685,” but his son Michael, the
physician, was born in Topsfield in 1670, and by the
church records it appears that “ Michael Dunnell’s ” wife
was in full communion in 1684. He is also recorded, un-
der date of December 18, 1678, as having taken the
“ Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity.” On October 24,
1672, he purchased from Francis Peabody, for £70, fifty
acres of land “ lyeing and being in Topsfield ... on the
South Syde of the River called Ipswich River . . .
bounded in part by Salem line.” In his will of June 29,
1710/11, he gives to his son Dr. Michael “ all yt parcell
of Land abounding his house, as he hath improved for
himself,” and several pieces of meadow. This will was
not probated till March, 17 17/18, and under date of March
3, 1717/18, his children, beneficiaries under the will,
Mary, Michael, Thomas, John and Joseph, regarding their
father’s will, deposed that “ as he did among some other
things dubious of exact meaning, we have mutually

agreed to divide the land between us in a different man-
_ __ •>)
ner.

Michael Dwinell, junior, is styled in old deeds as “phy-
sician and chirurgeon.” What were his medical studies
previous to his acquiring his title, are not known at this
day. In 1697 he is spoken of as “ Mikell Jr.,” and not
until 1724 does his name appear as Doctor Michael, when
it is found in a deed given that year. He might have
been studying his profession along the lines of hysterics,
when, on March 1, 1691/2, he was on duty at Ipswich

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

7

jail, where he was to overlook Sarah Good, accused of
witchcraft, it being recorded by the sheriff, “ that night I
sett a gaud to watch her at my own house, namely, Sam’l
Braybrook, Michaell Dunnell of Topsfield and Jonathan
Baker.”

It is of interest to read a letter from Dr. William
Douglas of Boston, written in 1720, regarding fees. He
writes : “ I have here practice amongst four sorts of

People ; some families pay me five pounds per annum each
for advice, sick or well, some few fee me as in Britain,
but for the Native New Englanders I am obliged to keep
a daybook of my consultations, advice and Visits, and
bring them in a bill ; others of the poorer sort I advise
and visit without any expectation of fees.”

Doctor Dwinell was married at least five times, and fam-
ily tradition has increased the number to seven, for Esther
Richards Dwinel, widow of John, who died Oct. 31, 1837,
at the advanced age of 101 years 8 mos. 10 days, main-
tained that at different times Doctor Michael had seven
wives, and when questioned as for which he felt the
strongest affection, replied “ that he knew no difference.”

He married, first, Hannah . Her maiden name

and the date of her marriage are not known. The chil-
dren by this marriage were :

Thomas, born Oct. 3, 1693, married Mary Perkins.

Sarah, born June 20, 1697, married Abram Foster of
Ipswich in 1718.

Mary, born April 25, 1702, married first, Gott;

after his death, Oct. 19, 1746, she married, second, Estes
Peabody, who died Dec. 31, 1770, without issue. She
died Feb. 15, 1772.

Michael, born Jan. 7, 1705/6, married Lucy Towne.

Stephen, born March 5, 1707/8, married Abigail Harris.

Hannah, born March 12, 1709/10, married Jan, 24,
1729, Joshua Bo were, or Bowery, of Marblehead.

Jacob, born Jan. 31, 1714/5, married Kesiah Gould.

Abigail, born Nov. 5, 1719, married Humphrey Deering
of Arundel, Me.

He married, second, Dec. 10, 1724, Elisabeth Fisk of
Wenham, who died Mar. 26, 1730. Their children were:

8

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

Benjamin, bom Nov. 10, 1726; married Mary Easty.

Thomas, born Aug. 26, 1729.

He married, third, Elizabeth Cave, who died February,
1787. Their children were:

Samuel, baptized July 18, 1731.

Elizabeth, born Oct, 29, 1733.

On July 6, 1737, he married Charity Cotta of Salem,
who died Nov. 8, 1752, and lastly, for his fifth wife, he
married, Feb. 1, 1753, widow Mary Balch, “who died
suddenly, a very aged woman, upwards of 90 years, April
14, 1774.” He had died on December 24, 1761, aged 91
years.

His will, dated July 17, 1753, like that of his father,
was signed with his seal and mark. It mentioned his wife
Mary, to whom he gives “ the use and income of all the
lands,” and also “ one cow ; ” to his son Michael he leaves
5 shillings, to be paid in 7 years after his own and his
wife’s death ; to his son Stephen, 5 shillings ; his son
Jacob 5 shillings ; his granddaughter, Esther Balch, wife
of David Balch, 5 shillings ; son Benjamin, house and
barn, and land and meadow in Topsfield, and all else,
bonds, and books, debts, etc., to his wife. He also men-
tions his daughters, Sarah Foster, and Mary, Hannah, and
Abigail. The inventory of his estate, presented Feb. 1,
1762, amounted to <£145. Among other articles men-
tioned were: Sum Books, 5/1, Two Coats and One Great
Coat.

Prior to the practice of Doctor Dwinell, and during his
early years, Topsfield may have been served by the
famous Doctor Oakes and Doctor Bullivant, both of Salem.
John Dunton, the London bookseller, who visited New
England in 1686, writes of these men as follows : —

“Dr. Oakes. He is an eminent physitian, and a relig-
ious man ; at his first coming to a patient he persuades
him to put his trust in God, the fountain of health ; the
want of this hath caused the bad success of most physi-
tians, for they that won’t acknowledge God in all their
applications, God won’t acknowledge them in that success
which they might otherwise expect.”

“ Dr. Bullivant. He is so conversant with the great

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

9

variety of nature, that not a drug or simple escapes his
knowledge, so that he never practices new experiments
upon his patients, except it be in desperate cases, where
death must be expelled by death. This also is praise-worthy
in him, that to the poor he always prescribes cheap,
but wholesome medicines, not curing them of a consump-
tion in their bodies, and sending it into their purses,
nor yet directing them to the East Indies to look for drugs,
when they may have far better out of their gardens.”

DR. AMOS D WIN ELL.

The second physician in Topsfield was Amos Dwinell,
the ninth child of Thomas, who was a brother to Doctor
Michael. He was born Mar. 19, 1721/2, the son of
Thomas and Dinah (Brimsdill) Dwinell. She was of
Lynn, they having married May 23, 1701. Amos was
admitted to a full communion in the Topsfield church on
Aug. 29, 1742. He married, May 26, 1749, Anna Per-
kins, at Rowley. There is no record of any children.
Under date of April 16, 1748, in a deed of eight acres of
land to Uzziel Rea, he styles himself “Amos Dwinell of
Topsfield, Physitian.” He witnessed a deed in Topsfield
in 1746, and is called “physician and doctor.” In the
assessors’ records for the years 1747-8-9, he is styled
“Doctor.” Just where he received his education is not
known. His uncle, Doctor “Michaill,” died Dec. 24,
1761, and it is quite probable that the nephew may have
been taught by him. Where he practiced after he left
Topsfield is not known, but in a letter written by John
Adams, dated Oct. 21, 1798, and printed in Gage’s His-
tory of Rowley, an Amos Dunnell is mentioned, but he is
not listed with the regular physicians of Rowley. After
his marriage, in 1749, he seems to have disappeared from
this vicinity, and it is not known where he died. His
father’s will was dated June 21, 1747, and in it he be-
queathed to Amos all his estate, “ both Real and Personal
in Topsfield, or anywhere else.”

DR. JOSEPH BRADSTREET.

The third physician was Joseph Bradstreet, a grandson
of Governor Simon Bradstreet. He was born May 13,

10

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

1727, and was the youngest son of Simon and Elizabeth
(Capen) Bradstreet. She was the daughter of Rev.
Joseph Capen of Topsfield. In a deed dated Oct. 17,
1749, from Joseph to his brother John, he styles himself
“ Joseph Bradstreet of Salem Village, Student in Physick.”
It was customary in those early days, as there were no
medical schools in Massachusetts, to apprentice young
men to some leading practitioner, and in due time the
young man went forth with the master’s certificate in his
pocket, a full-fledged physician. Some obtained a license
from the court to practice.

Joseph Bradstreet married, first, February 8, 1770, Abi-
gail Fuller of Middleton. In the intention of marriage,
Oct. 29, 1769, he is called “Dr. Joseph.” A son Joseph
was born in Topsfield on March 26, 1771. She was sep-
arated from him by act of the “ Governor and Council of
the Province of the Massachusetts Bay.” October 17,
1771, and he was ordered to pay her <£5 yearly, in “ four
equal quarterly payments.” He married, second (pub-
lished Nov. 16, 1783), widow Hannah Ross of Ipswich,
and died in Topsfield Oct. 5, 1790, at the age of 63 years.

His practice did not require all his time, for under date
of Sept. 28, 1756, the town of Topsfield voted to “abate
the Rate Laid on Doct. Joseph Bradstreet in the year
1755, when he was Keeping School for the town.” The
town also allowed to Dr. Joseph Bradstreet “ two Pounds
Eight shillings for one months Keeping School in the
year 1756.” September 22, 1788, it was voted that “the
town agree to Board Doct. Joseph Bradstreet During the
time hee shall keep school to pay the town the sum of
£3-15-2 which is due to the town from said Bradstreet.”
He died a pauper.

DR. RICHARD DEXTER.

“ During the generation immediately preceding the
Revolution the science of medicine in Massachusetts was
making progress by slow and steady steps. The bond of
union with the clerical profession existing from the earli-
est days of colonial life had been cut, and there was no
longer any practical connection between the two callings.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

11

Medicine had ceased to creep, and was now walking.”
During this period we find Dr. Richard Dexter practicing
in Topsfield.

Doctor Dexter, who began his practice in Topsfield in
1740, and continued till his death, Nov. 25, 1783, was
probably the first practitioner of the medical art in
Topsfield who devoted his time exclusively to it. He was
the son of John and Winnefred (Sprague) Dexter, and
was born June 15, 1713, at Malden, Mass. He was of
Irish descent, the Dexter family being closely identified
with the history of Ireland from the beginning of the
12th century. Richard Dexter, the great grandfather of
Doctor Dexter, “ with his wife Bridget and three or more
children, fled to England from the great Irish massacre of
the Protestants, which commenced Oct. 27, 1641. What
vessel he came over in is not known, but he was in Boston
prior to Feb. 28, 1642, when he became an inhabitant.”
His father was John Dexter, who died in 1722, and who was
for many years a deacon of the church and selectman of
the town of Malden, Mass., and commanded a Company of
Foot during the reign of George I, receiving his commis-
sion from Governor Samuel Shute in 1717. His mother,
Winnefred Sprague of Malden, was born in 1673, and
died in 1752. Her “reverend son,” the Rev. Samuel
Dexter of Dedham, says she “ was a very pious woman,
strictly religious, lived in the fear of God, and died strong
in faith and full of comfort and joy.”

On June 18, 1741, Doctor Dexter married Mehitabel
Putnam, who was then living in Boxford, probably with her
sisters, Mrs. Francis and Mrs. Thomas Perley. She was a
sister of the heroic General Israel Putnam, and it is said
she possessed many similar conspicuous traits of character
to those of her brother. She was the daughter of Joseph
and Elizabeth (Porter) Putnam. They had a daughter,
Mehitable, born Nov. 3, 1742, who married Rev. John
Treadwell, and died July 3, 1786, at Ipswich. Mrs. Dex-
ter died Sept. 2, 1801, aged 79 years. Doctor Dexter and
his wife were admitted to full communion in the Topsfield
church on Oct. 31st, 1742.

In writing of Doctor Dexter, the late Nehemiah Cleave-

12

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

land says “ he had, I believe, the confidence of the people
here, not only as a physician, but as a citizen.” About
1742, he built as a residence, the house on lower Main
Street, now known as the “ Agricultural Farm House.”
It is said that Madam Dexter, who was a fine equestrienne,
while the house was in process of construction, rode her
horse into the second story by way of an inclined platform
that was used in carrying the building supplies. It is
also said that a detachment of troops returning from
Arnold’s Expedition against Quebec, camped under the
large pine tree that stood in front of the house, until with-
in a few years.

Doctor Dexter’s education previous to his practice in
Topsfield is problematical. The available literature of
the profession was scanty, and for that reason easily mas-
tered. The doctors had no knowledge of pathology, and
but little of anatomy. It must not be forgotten that there
were but very few regular graduates of medicine in the
country for more than a hundred years after its settle-
ment. In his time there were no medical schools in this
country and few had the means or inclination for study
abroad. Medical students were frequently “ bound out,
like apprentices, to their instructors, and were compelled
to do all sorts of chores around the house and barn, as well
as the professional drudgery. In those days the physi-
cians used to buy their own drugs and prepare their own
medicines, and it was the province of the students to
pound the bark and spread the plasters, as well as to mix
the ointments and make the pills. In short they were to
be useful to their employers, as best they might in any
way, whether in bleeding patients, pulling teeth, or attend-
ing to cases of minor surgery. Sometimes they boarded
with their masters, being intimates of their families, and
in some cases marrying the daughter of the house. It was
customary for physicians in their daily rounds of practce
to be accompanied by their scholars, in order to show them
the different forms of disease, and to teach them the rules
of diagnosis. On their return home the young men would
sometimes undergo a form of questioning, which was con-
sidered an examination. In this way, with a certain

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

13

amount of medical reading, the main supply of doctors was
kept up.”

“ They did not measure the drugs with the precision
nowadays, — the asbestos stomachs and colossal minds of
our forefathers were much above such petty minuteness.”
These lax directions accompany old prescriptions, and the
patients some how followed them. The amount of medi-
cine to be taken would be “the bigth of a walnut,” or
“ enough to lie on a penknifes point,” or “ enough to cover
a French coin,” or “ as bigg as a haslenut,” or “ as great
as a charger,” or “ a pretty draught,” and “ a pretty bunch
of herbs,” but the most concise of all directions was when
one was told to “ take a pretty quantity as often as you
please. ”

Cheerfully these public servants toiled over the hardest
roads, in every season and in all weather, to attend rich
and poor alike ; the country doctor could not choose his
patients if he would. A rigid standard of custom gave
his services to all who needed them, fees being hardly con-
sidered when any one needed medical attendance.

The fees were very modest. Even in Boston, prior to
1782, the ordinary visit was charged at one shilling, six
pence to two shillings. Half a dollar was only charged
“such as were in high life.” In the year 1782, a club of
the leading physicians fixed the common fee at fifty cents,
in consultation at one dollar, while night visits were
doubled. Capital operations in surgery were at five
pounds lawful money ; medicines were charged at very
high prices comparatively.

When the French Acadian family of Michael Dugoy
were living in Topsfield, Doctor Dexter was their physi-
cian, and in 1759 he charged the town on their account for
“ 13 professional visits, Hystarick pills and powders, 3
purges Stumatick mix ter, blisters and purgative powders,”
all supplied for the magnificent sum of eighteen shillings.
There was a Doctor Sawyer of Ipswich who attended this
family, and there is a charge for the “ French Doctor”
amounting to £1. 4. 0. Where he came from is not
known.

Tradition has said that Doctor Dexter had in his medi-

14

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

cal library, which was purchased intact by Dr. Nehemiah
Cleveland, but two volumes, but the inventory of his
estate shows “ 3 Large Books” valued at XI. 2, and “ Books
and Pamphlets” valued at XI. 16. 0. The inventory of his
estate, which amounted to X1240 - 19 - 2, includes “ Home-
stead and 37 acres, also 53 acres of land, Pew in the
Meeting House, Riding chair, 2 Great Coats, 4 strait bod-
ied Coats, 8 Jackets and 4 pair Breeches, 12 pair stockings,
1 Beaver Hat, 1 Wig and 1 Desk valued at X3, One large
Bible XI, 3 large Books XI. 2, Books and pamphlets
XI. 16. 0. Instruments X2. 14. 8, Brass Ink horn, 8s.,
Druggs and medicines, Bottles and phials containing the
same X7. 6.0. Case of Bottles with medicines XI. 10. 0.”
In the museum of the Essex Institute is preserved a silver
mounted lancet case of shark’s skin with the name “ R.
Dexter” engraved on one end. This case afterwards fell
into the hands of Doctor Treadwell of Salem and from him
it passed to Doctor Choate who gave it to the Institute.

His body rests in what is now Pine Grove Cemetery.
The gravestone is inscribed as follows :

“ Erected in memory of Doct. Richard Dexter ; who af-
ter a course of endearing services, of painful suffering, —
supported by the hope which Christianity inspires, —
cheerfully departed this life Nov. 25th, 1783, Aet. 71.

“ Since deaths our certain lot be life improved in deeds
of goodness, and the full pursuit of that which will not
fail, a part in Christ. The hope and earnest of eternal
bliss.”

DR. DAVID NORWOOD.

For the years 1779 to 1782 inclusive, there is record of
two doctors. The first of these was Dr. David Norwood,
who was taxed in the year 1779, for poll, personal and
real estate, u for Baker’s Estate.” The second was Dr.
Caleb Rea, Jr. who was taxed for poll and personal in the
years 1781-2. Dr. David Norwood was probably from
Lynn, the son of Thomas Norwood, Jr., and born April
16, 1755. His mother was probably Lydia Hawkes. He
married Aug. 19, 1778, at Newburyport, Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Giles) Tar bell. Doctor

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

15

Norwood and his wife must have come to Topsfield shortly
after their marriage. Their one child Betsey, who mar-
ried Samuel Prince of Manchester, was born in Topsfield,
Dec. 21, 1779. Mrs. Norwood’s parents “lived in Dan-
vers until 1779, when they removed to Andover, and
shortly after to Merrimack, N. H. Doctor Norwood must
have removed with his wife’s parents for the records of
Merrimack, N. H. show that he was living there about
1780. On Feb. 5, 1781, “Caleb Rea of Topsfield, — phy-
sician, in consideration of one hundred pounds . . . paid
me by David Norwood of Merrimack in the County of
Hillsborough, New Hampshire, physician,” transferred land
in Danvers that he had purchased of Andrew and Mary
Putnam on Nov. 7, 1780. On June 8, 1784, he conveyed
to Joseph Leach 1-2 acre of land with dwelling house and
barn, and is styled in the deed as David Norwood, “ phy-
sician of Manchester.” In 1794 he is recorded as having
“ labored excessively” during the “ great sickness.” He
died in Manchester, Mass., May 26, 1808, aged 54 years.
The inventory of his estate shows surgical instruments,
Art of Surgery, and old books. He probably was the
first surgeon who practiced in Topsfield.

DR. CALEB REA, JR.

Dr. Caleb Rea, Jr., was born in Danvers, March 8,
1758, and was the second son of Dr. Caleb and Ruth
(Porter) Rea. The elder Dr. Caleb Rea served as surgeon
in Col. Jona. Bagley’s regiment in the war for the con-
quest of Canada, in the campaign of 1758, and was in the
memorable expedition against Ticonderoga, and died in
1760 at Danvers.

On the 27th of May, 1775, Doctor Rea enlisted as a
surgeon. His professional duties, according to family
tradition, seem to have been principally on the privateers
which were fitted out in Salem and Beverly. Towards
the close of the war Doctor Rea was living in Topsfield,
just where is not known, and then removed to Ipswich,
where his eldest child, Thomas, was born July 11, 1782.
Previous to October, 1788, Doctor Rea removed his fam-
ily to Windham, Maine, for at that session of the Court

16

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

of General Sessions he was licensed to retail spirituous
liquors in that town. His practice in Maine covered
many adjoining towns. He died Dec. 29, 1796.

While living in Topsfield, Doctor Rea married, on Oct.
4, 1781, Sarah, daughter of Capt. John and Abigail
(Blaney) White of Salem, Mass. Mrs. Rea died Jan. 22,
1836, aged 78 years. Their children were: Thomas,

born July 11, 1782, in Ipswich ; Sally, born Sept. 27,
1785, in Windham; Mary, born Apr. 14, 1787, in Wind-
ham; Caleb, born Apr. 11, 1789, in Windham; Porter,
born July 19, 1792, in Windham ; Albus, born Feb. — ,
1795, in Windham, and was a doctor in Portland, Maine.

DR. NEHEMIAH CLEAVELAND.

In 1783, the year of Dr. Richard Dexter’s death, two
physicians, Nehemiah Cleaveland and John Merriam, set-
tled in Topsfield. They were both young men, and from
that time they divided between them the medical practice
of the place, and often extended their visits into the
neighboring towns.

Nehemiah Cleaveland was born Aug. 26, 1760, and was
the youngest son of Rev. John and Mary (Dodge) Cleve-
land of Ipswich. He married, first, Oct. 6, 1787, Lucy,
daughter of Dr. John and Lucy (Bolles) Manning of
Ipswich. She died June 6, 1791, aged 29 years, childless,
and he married, second, Experience, daughter of Dr.
Elisha and Tamarson (Kimball) (Coit) Lord, of Pomfret,
Conn. They had nine children. Her sister, Alethea,
married Rev. Asahel Huntington, pastor of the church in
Topsfield from 1789 until 1813.

“ Nehemiah Cleaveland, at the age of sixteen, was an
attendant on his father during the siege of Boston, and
afterward enlisted in 1777, and served for nearly twelve
months. He saw service at West Point and in New Jer-
sey, and was also at Ticonderoga. At the age of 21, be-
ing disappointed in earlier hopes of a college education,
he entered on the study of medicine with his brother,
Parker, Cleaveland, at Byfield, and later with Dr. John
Manning of Ipswich. . . . He entered on practice in Tops-
field in 1783, which was neither extensive or lucrative.

NEHEMIAH CLEAVELAND, M. D.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

17

He soon received a commission as Justice of the Peace,
an office of some distinction in those days, and was thus
led to engage, to a certain extent, in concerns of a civic
character. He became known and highly appreciated as
a man of good judgment and prompt business habits, and
was much employed in the public affairs of town and
county.” He served the town as selectman in 1801, 1802
and 1803, and from 1809 to 1812 inclusive. He was an
ardent politician and was elected by the Federalists to
serve as a State Senator in 1811 and 1812, and from 1815
to 1818 inclusive, and then refused longer to be a candi-
date. In 1814 he was made a session justice of the Cir-
cuit Court of Common Pleas, and from 1820 to 1822 he
was Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions for Essex
County, and the following year was appointed Chief
Justice. He retired in 1828, and that year received the
honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Harvard
University. He was a Commissioner of the County for
over twenty years.

One of the greatest service he rendered the town was
the founding of the Topsfield Academy. He also was
very prominent in the church of Topsfield, and the church
records show that he was held in high regard when it is
recorded “ that the pastor shall be authorized to associate
Dr. Cleaveland with himself in the examination of persons
for the admission to the church in such cases as he may
be in doubt about himself.” Tradition says he was one
of the three persons in Topsfield who subscribed to a
newspaper ; the other two copies being taken by Jacob
Towne, Esq., and John and Nathaniel Averill. He was
the first postmaster of Topsfield and the president of the
Eastern Stage Company. He lived in a house on Main
street, now occupied by Charles V. Jackman and consid-
erably remodelled. This house was probably built by
Jacob Robinson sometime prior to 1730, Dr. Cleaveland
coming into possession about 1795. From Dr. Bentley’s
Diary, under date of Sept. 16, 1801, it appears that Doc-
tor Cleaveland kept a tavern, for he records that u Dr.
Cleveland of Topsfield has converted the mansion house
of Porter into a very convenient tavern, below the meet-
ing house in Topsfield.”

18

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPS FIELD,

“ Doctor Cleaveland was just six feet in height. His
form was erect, dignified, and commanding. Until past
thirty he was spare and slender. He afterwards became
corpulent, weighing at one time two hundred and sixty-
five pounds. Yet such were the height and proportions
of his frame that his corpulence never materially injured
its symmetry.

“ His health, until about fifty years old, was uncom-
monly firm, but after a severe sickness, he never regained
his former firm health, and continued to be subject to at-
tacks of severe pain and confinement, and scarcely ever
rode without feeling more or less uneasiness. A sulkey,
which he used constantly for the last twenty-five years,
was the onty vehicle which he could ride with tolerable
comfort.”

In practice he is described as cautious and careful, and
as never undertaking difficult surgical operations. “ He
was punctual in attending to calls, and kind and cheerful
in the sick room. He possessed in a high degree the
qualities which ensure to the physician the confidence
and attachment of his patients. Amid the strife of par-
ties and the collision of rival interests, a man so decided
and active could not be without opponents. These he
had, and bitter ones.”

The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of June,
1889, says of Doctor Cleaveland : “ During the fifty

years of his practice in Topsfield, few days probably passed
when his opinions or assistance were not sought in some
matter aside from his profession. There are few occur-
rences or questions incident to common life in regard to
which he had not formed an opinion or could not give
judicious advice.”

Dr. A. L. Peirson of Salem, writing of Doctor Cleave-
land in the Medical and Surgical Journal, notes that “ he
was a much respected member of the Essex South Dis-
trict Medical Society. No man among us set a better
example of professional integrity and honor. The few
who could boast of his friendship will long remember
with pleasure the virtuous and kind-hearted old man,
whose influence was uniformly and efficiently exerted in

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

19

support of good order and the true advancement of soci-
ety.” He died Feb. 26, 1837, in his 77th year.

DR. JOHN MERRIAM.

Dr. John Merriam was the son of John and Sarah
(Jones) Merriam and was born in Concord, Mass., Aug.
10, 1758 and removed to Topsfield in December, 1783.
He studied medicine in Charlton, Mass., and married Han-
nah Jones of that town. He was licensed to practice by the
Medical Association of Worcester County. On March 31,
1784, he bought the house now owned by Philip S. Palmer.
Twelve years later he purchased land opposite his resi-
dence, and erected the two story house now standing at
the junction of Haverhill and Ipswich streets. In the old
house were born Doctor Merriam’s three children : Royal
Augustus Merriam, who was born Jan. 30, 1786, and was
his father’s successor in the practice of physic ; Frederick
Jones Merriam, born Dec. 8, 1788, who also lived in Tops-
field; and Almira, born Jan. 25, 1791, who died unmar-
ried in 1839 at her brother’s home. Mrs. Merriam died
in the new house Feb. 20, 1806, aged 43 years. On Sept.
18, 1808 Doctor Merriam married, second, Miss Mary
Stiles of Topsfield. He died of consumption Nov. 21,
1817 at the age of 59 years. His widow Mary died at Box-
ford, Dec. 24, 1825, aged 62 years.

The only public office he held was that of selectman for
the year 1787. He was an old time physician with a con-
siderable practice. It is said of him that he “ was well
prepared for the work of his profession, as the times then
were. His medical library was large for those days. From
entries made in his own handwriting in books of his libra-
ry, it would appear that his studies preparatory to the
study of medicine were considerable, and that he had some
knowledge of Latin. There is no word of his school days,
but it may be presumed that he had the advantages that
other young men enjoyed. He might have received in-
struction from an educated man, before taking up his med-
ical studies. From what we learn of him, it is certain
that he stood high as a medical practitioner and that he
had the respect of his patrons and of the community in

20

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

general. He had a large practice that extended into the
adjoining towns. As was often the case, in those days
with the country physician, he gave some attention to
the cultivation of the land. He acquired property and
left a considerable estate, and a name that has been handed
down with respect.”

In the year 1825, a Dr. Joseph Field was taxed for a
poll. Nothing further can be found concerning him, and
he must be considered as a wandering physician.

DR. JEREMIAH STONE.

Dr. Jeremiah Stone was born Nov. 2, 1798, in Marl-
borough, N. H. He began practice in Topsfield, Jan. 6,
1826, and continued for about twelve years. He was the
son of Shubael and Polly (Rogers) Stone. Dr. Stone
graduated at the Dartmouth Medical College in December,
1825, and came immediately to Topsfield. He was the
first doctor in Topsfield who received his education at a
Medical School. Finding that a country practice with it,
long and tiresome drives was impairing his health, he re-
moved to New Bedford and thence in 1864 to Province-
town, Mass., where he remained until his death April 23,
1875, with the exception of two years spent at Chatham,
Mass. He was one of the incorporators of the Topsfield
Academy, and was town treasurer for the year 1834.
He married Feb. 28, 1828, Esther, daughter of Moses and
Esther (Dwinell) Wildes. They had Esther Wildes, born
Dec. 16, 1828 ; Moses Wildes, born July 7, 1836 ; and Susan
Alzea, born February 28, 1834.

“ In town affairs, he ever took an active interest, en-
deavoring to build up the place and render it truly pros-
perous. Foremost in all good movements, he cordially es-
poused the cause of anti-slavery in its earliest days, when
it was unpopular to be an abolitionist. He was an ardent
supporter of temperance, and an earnest worker in the
Congregational church, of which he had been a member
since 1814. He was an honorary member of the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society, which he joined in 1831. He
was intolerant of quackery in every form and strict in his
views of professional etiquette. Prompt in decision and

ROYAL AUGUSTUS MERRIAM, M. D.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

21

self-reliant in the emergencies of his profession, he in-
spired and retained confidence in his skill. Though often
abrupt in his manners, yet beneath was a warm heart that
beat in sympathy with the needy and oppressed. Earnest
in his convictions, decided in his opinions and cheerful in
his disposition, he carried the elasticity of youth into the
last years of his advanced life. Tall and erect, of power-
ful presence, he inspired with hope the sick who sought
his aid. To a naturally buoyant spirit was added the sus-
taining power of a strong and earnest religious faith that
made belief to him a bright and clear reality.”

DR. JOSEPH CUMMINGS BATCHELDER.

Dr. Joseph Cummings Batchelder succeeded Doctor Stone
about 1838. He was boyn in Topsfield, May 10, 1809,
and was the son of Capt. Jacob and Mary (Cummings)
Batchelder. He married Nov. 9, 1837, Anna Wellington,
who was born June 9, 1816, the daughter of Rev. Charles
Wellington of Templeton, Mass. He began practice in
Lynn, after having studied medicine with Dr. J. W. D.
Osgood of Templeton, and remained there for less than two
years when he removed to Topsfield and stayed till
1850, going then to Cambridge, Mass., where he practised
for seven years, and from 1857 till his death April 26,
1885 he practised in Templeton. He was a member of
the legislature from Topsfield in 1846 and served as as-
sistant surgeon, from Mar. 1, 1862 to August, 1862, in
the 25th Massachusetts Volunteers, in North Carolina. In
1843 he built the two story house on Main street now
owned and occupied by Merrill B. Bailey. He became a
member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1838.
Mrs. Batchelder died in Templeton, of pneumonia, April
26, 1885. They had three daughters.

DR. ROYAL AUGUSTUS MERRIAM.

Dr. Royal Augustus Merriam,* the son of Dr. John
and Hannah (Jones) Merriam, was the next physician.
He was bom Jan. 30, 1786, and entering Dartmouth Col-
lege was graduated in 1808. He studied medicine at the
Dartmouth Medical School, and received his degree of

*See Topsfield Historical Collections, Yol. 4, p. 120.

90

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

M. B. in 1811, and M. D. in 1820. In 1832, he became a
member of the Mass. Medical Society. In January, 1812,
he commenced the practice of medicine in Middleton,
where he met with considerable success, especially in cases
of typhoid fever. The next year he returned to Topsfield.
His short stay in Middleton is easily accounted for by the
fact that his father was in failing health, and had been
somewhat of an invalid for several years. Here he con-
tinued in the practice of his profession from 1813 to 1823,
when, looking for a larger field of action, he went to Mar-
blehead where he established himself and remained nine
years. Returning to his native town in 1832, he occupied
the house on Main street where he afterward lived. “ His
library was large and well supplied with the standard
works. Surgery was his specialty.” Doctor Merriam mar-
ried Mar. 12, 1839, at Newburyport, Adeline, born Mar.
20, 1806, daughter of Nathaniel Marsh of Newburyport.
Their children were: Sidney Augustus, born Mar. 11, 1841,
who studied medicine and was graduated from Dartmouth
College in 1861 ; and Arthur Marsh, who was born April
12, 1843.

Doctor Merriam “ was interested in public affairs, and
was active as a public man, holding offices of trust in the
town, and as a member of associations, industrial, philan-
thropic, and social. He was often called to serve the town,
probably no citizen more often, in various trusts. He held
the offices of Selectman, Overseer of the Poor, School
Teacher, member of the School Committee and Superin-
tendent of Schools, and was selected to serve on commit-
tees in the more important crises of town affairs. He was
elected for twenty-two years a member of the School Com-
mittee, and probably always was its chairman, excepting
when he served as Superintendent.” He was a magistrate
of the town, an incorporator of the Academy, and was a
member of the Essex Agricultural Society from 1821. He
died Nov. 13, 1864.

During a part of the time of Doctor Merriam’s practice
in Topsfield, Dr. George Whitefield Sawyer of Boxford
was in friendly competition with him. Doctor Sawyer
was born in Ipswich in 1770, and married Polly Killam
of Middleton in 1800. He subsequently settled in Box-

BY HENRY EOLLANSBEE LONG.

23

ford as a pt^sician, on the farm known as the “ Sawyer
farm/’ on the road to Middleton, near the present resi-
dence of Frank W. Killam. “ He was acknowledged to
be a good physician for the times ; and his natural blunt-
ness of speech oftimes amused his patients. After hon-
oring his profession for many years by a life of integrity
and trust, he died March 23, 1855, at the age of 85 years.”

DR. CHARLES PARKER FRENCH.

After Doctor Merriam was well along in years, other
physicians came to Topsfield. The first of these was Dr.
Charles Parker French, who was born Nov. 27, 1823, in
Lyndeborough, N. H., the son of Isaac P. and Clarissa
(Barnes) French, He was graduated at Dartmouth Col-
lege in 1847, and came to Boxford, and “ secured board
with the late Major William Lowe, and commenced prac-
tice there in 1848.” He continued his practice in Box-
ford for nearly two years, and in 1849 came to Tops-
field. During the years 1850 and 1851, he lived in the
old “ Shepard house,” which formerly stood just beyond
the present residence of Augustus W. Smith. Doctor
French married, May 1, 1850, Mary S., daughter of
Oliver T. and Sarah A. (Towne) Peabody of Boxford.
She died Feb. 10, 1871, in Denver, Colo. He was a
large, fleshy man, and was “ much liked for his humor-
ous disposition. His medical knowledge was deemed
sufficient for good practice.” He remained in Topsfield
four years, and, in May, 1854, went to Virden, Illinois,
afterwards moving to Denver, Colorado, where he died
Feb. 23, 1904. He became a member of the Massachu-
setts Medical Society in 1852.

DR. DAVID CHOATE.

The next physician was Dr. David Choate, son of
David and Elizabeth (Wade) Choate, who was born in
Essex, Mass., Nov. 27, 1828. He married, Jan. 1, 1856,
Susan Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Susan (Stanley)
Kimball, who was born in Ipswich Feb. 24, 1829, and
died in Salem, Mass. They had two children : Helen
Stanley, born Feb. 5, 1858 ; and Susan Elizabeth, born
Sept. 29, 1862.

24

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

Doctor Choate was educated in the schools of his na-
tive town and at Phillips Academy, Andover. He com-
menced the study of medicine with Prof. Dixie Crosby,
M. D., of the Dartmouth Medical College, and subse-
quently entered the Harvard Medical School, from which
he was graduated in 1854. When attending his last lec-
tures, Dr. Choate Burnham of Hamilton, Mass., urged
him to settle in Hamilton. He practiced in that town
from October, 1858, to April, 1854, going back and forth
on the train to his studies at Boston. While in Hamilton,
William Cleaveland and John Wright of Topsfield called
and urged him to come to Topsfield, as Doctor French
was planning to go to Illinois, and Doctor Batchelder
having gone to Templeton, Topsfield had only Dr. R. A.
Merriam, who, although well advanced in years and re-
tired from active practice, still gave his assistance in trou-
blesome cases, which he continued to do till his death.
Doctor Choate accordingly went to Topsfield in April,
1854, and boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Balch.
Doctor Choate occupied one of the front rooms as an
office. He had an ordinary carriage at first, but thinking
a gig better suited for his practice in Middleton, Boxford
and Linebrook, he had one built for him by Thomas K.
Leach, the Topsfield wheelwright. After his marriage in

1856, he moved into the house yet standing on the corner
of Main and Summer streets, and now owned by Mrs.
Ephraim Peabody. He frequently called into consultation
Dr. Cox of Salem, who, after a time, urged him to settle
in that city. Although Doctor Choate liked Topsfield,
and the citizens were highly satisfied with his professional
services, yet he was unused to the hardships suffered dur-
ing the winter season while on long drives, andso wel-
comed a chance to go to Salem, removing there in June,

1857. At this time he charged seventy-five cents a visit
for calls in Topsfield, and also often went to Boxford for
that sum. After he had decided to leave Topsfield, the
citizens offered him an increase of 25% on the charge
for his visits as an inducement to remain. Doctor Choate
had many applicants for his practice, finally selling to
Dr. Justin Allen of Hamilton. He still lives in Salem,

JUSTIN ALLEN, M. D.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

25

where “ he has had a very extensive practice, and by his
kindliness, his professional skill and fidelity, he has gained
a strong hold upon and a warm place in the hearts of
those in whose families he had visited. Dr. Choate is a
most indefatigable worker, and cheerfully responds to
many calls, day or night, when he knows there will be no
financial remuneration. He is known as the 4 Beloved
Physician.’ ” He became a member of the Massachusetts
Medical Society in 1853, and is a member of the Essex
South District Medical Society. He is a member of the
Essex Congregational Club, and for thirty-four years has
been a deacon of the Tabernacle Congregational Church
of Salem. He has served on the School Board. During
the Civil War he was examining surgeon for volunteers
and drafted men, and from 1863 to 1869 was examining
surgeon for pensions. He was on the staff of the Salem
Hospital for fourteen years following its organization. He
lives on Norman street in Salem.

DR. JUSTIN ALLEN.

Dr. Justin Allen* was born in Hamilton, Mass., Sept.
29, 1826, and was the son of Ezekiel and Sally (Roberts)
Allen. After attending the schools of his native town,
he studied at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass.,
1845-6, and in 1847 was enrolled at Rockingham Acad-
emy, Hampton Falls, N. H., and at Hampton Academy.
In the year 1848 he was again at Williston Seminary, and
in 1849-1850, was back at Hampton Academy. Entering
Dartmouth College, he left in the spring of 1851, and
continued his studies at Brown University, graduating
from that institution with an A. B. in 1852. In 1853-
1854 he attended lectures at the Berkshire Medical Insti-
tute, and in 1855 the medical lectures at the Tremont
Medical School. In 1856 he received the degree of M. D.
at Harvard, and in June, 1857, came to Topsfield, buying
the practice of Dr. David Choate. He continued his prac-
tice here and in the neighboring towns till 1894, when he
retired from active professional work, enjoying in the next
few years several trips abroad. He died, unmarried, Nov.
5, 1908, aged 82 years.

*See Topsfield Historical Collections, Yol. 14, page 148.

26

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

When he first came to Topsfield he lived in the house
now owned and occupied by Henry H. Roberts, afterwards
removing to the house on Main street now owned by John
H. Towne, where he lived eighteen years, then removing
to the George P. Dow house at the corner of Main and
Prospect streets, and lastly moving into the adjoining
house, which he had purchased and where he lived till his
death. He became a member of the Massachusetts Med-
cal Society in 1859, retiring as an active member in 1892.
He was the first President of the Topsfield Historical So-
ciety, and continued as such until his death.

DR. WILLIAM DUDLEY HILL.

Early in 1881, Dr. William Dudley Hill, a native of
Lebanon, Maine, settled in Topsfield. He was born in
1858, the son of Orrin T. and Mary E. (Foss) Hill, and
married, June 1, 1881, at Kingston, N. H., Kitty Hart-
well Pearson, born in New Bedford, Mass., daughter of
Mark R. and Kate (Hartwell) Pearson. Doctor Hill was
graduated from the medical department of the University
of Vermont in 1879. He lived in the house on School
avenue now owned by Alphonso T. Merrill, but remained
in Topsfield only a few years, removing to Paterson, N. J.,
then to Maryland, or Virginia, and to New Hampshire,
where he conducted a sanitarium, and is still living. He
also practiced dentistry, having a chair in the press-room
now occupied by A. T. Merrill.

DR. GEORGE MERRILL RANDALL.

Dr. George Merrill Randall came to Topsfield, Oct. 22,
1889, and was associated with Dr. Justin Allen. He was
born at Vassalboro, Maine, Mar. 20, 1863, and was the
son of George LeBarron Randall, a native of Barnstable,
Mass., (who received the degree of M. D. at Maine Medi-
cal School, Bowdoin College, in 1842, and practised in
Maine for thirty years), and Caroline Matilda (Sturgis)
Randall, who was a native of Maine. Doctor Randall re-
ceived the degree of M. D. at the Maine Medical School,
Bowdoin College, in 1889, and later went to the Boston
City Hospital 'where he was Surgical House Officer. After
selling his practice in Topsfield he went to Augusta, Me.,

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

27

where he practiced for seven years, and contracted pulmo-
nary tuberculosis which sent him into the mountains of
California for one year. After regaining his health he re-
turned to Augusta and practiced five years, and then re-
moved to Lowell, Mass., where he is now located. He
holds a commission as 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Re-
serve Corps, U. S. A. He married June 7, 1893, Alice
Martha Hawes, daughter of Isaiah and Lucy (Hatch)
Hawes. They have no children.

DR. THOMAS LINCOLN JENKINS.

Dr. Randall sold his practice to Dr. Thomas Lincoln
Jenkins, who was born Oct. 10, 1866, in Chelsea, Mass.,
the son of Loyal Lovejoy, of Portsmouth, N. H. and Mary
Jane (Norton) Jenkins, a native of Addison, Maine. He
married June 18, 1902, Lucy Maud Garbutt of Revere,
Mass., daughter of Andrew and Lucy Ann (D underdale)
Garbutt. They have one child, Mary Lucy Jenkins, born
May 10, 1908. Doctor Jenkins, after graduating from
the Revere public schools, and the Charlestown High
School, attended the Harvard Medical School, graduating
in the class of 1890. On November 1, 1890 he came to
Topsfield. In 1891, he became a member of the Massa-
chusetts Medical Society. He was Assistant Surgeon in
the 8th Mass. Inf. U. S. Vols. in the Spanish-American
War and is now Major and Surgeon of the 2nd Brigade,
Mass. Vol. Militia.

DR. BYRON SANBORN.

Dr. Byron Sanborn, the son of James Stanlius and Mary
Ella (Yeaw) Sanborn, was born in Loudon Centre, N. H.,
August 13, 1874. He was graduated with the degree of
A. B. from Dartmouth College in 1897, and from Dart-
mouth Medical School in February, 1900, he received the
degree of M. D. After studying in Boston and New York
Hospitals he came to Topsfield, Sept. 28, 1901. In 1909
he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society
and also the American Medical Society. On Sept. 25,
1901, he married Mary Rebecca, daughter of Edward
Pickering and Emma (Glover) Leavitt of Concord, N. H.
They have one child, Victor Paul, born August 2, 1903.

28

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

NATIVES OF TOPSFIELD WHO BECAME
PHYSICIANS BUT PRACTICED
ELSEWHERE.

DR. NATHANIEL BRADSTREET.

Dr. Nathaniel Bradstreet,* the son of Henry and Abi-
gail (Porter) Bradstreet, was born in Topsfield, Oct. 4,
1771. He was fitted for college by Rev. Asahel Hunting-
ton, and entered Dartmouth College in 1791, but after re-
maining there a year, he entered Harvard from which col-
lege he was graduated in 1795, afterwards studying medi-
cine with Dr. James Thacher of Plymouth and Dr. E. A.
Holyoke of Salem. In the autumn of 1798, he was ap-
pointed chief surgeon of the sloop-of-war Merrimac, Moses
Brown of Newburyport, captain, and made several voy-
ages to the West Indies in that vessel. In February, 1800
he resigned his commission and shortly afterward com-
menced the practice of medicine in Newburyport where he
continued till his death. He became prominent in his pro-
fession and was highly esteemed as a physician and sur-
geon. At the time of his death he was a Councillor of
the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died at Newbury-
port Oct. 6, 1828. He married Mary Crombie by whom
he had eight children.

DR. ISRAEL BALCH.

Dr. Israel Balch, the son of David, 3d and Sarah (Pea-
body) Balch, was born in Topsfield Sept. 14, 1788. He
fitted for college with the Rev. Asahel Huntington, enter-
ing Dartmouth when he was eighteen years old. “ He re-
ceived no aid from his father to defray his educational ex-
penses. His grandfather Peabody made him a present of
$450 which was all the pecuniary aid he had, that he did
not earn himself.” He was graduated in the class of 1811.
After graduating, he taught school a year in Topsfield, and
a year and a half in the Academy at Amesbury. After
studying medicine with Dr. Nathan Smith of Hanover,
N. H. and three years with Doctor French of Amesbury, he

♦See also Cleaveland’s Bicentennial Address, Appendix 9; and
Topsfield Historical Collections, Yol. 12, page 143.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

29

began to practice in Salisbury, in 1814, and continued till
1820, when he removed to Amesbury, where he resided
and practiced, until his death July 7, 1858. He was mar-
ried at Amesbury in 1814, to Miss Nancy Goodwin, who
was born Oct. 12, 1798 and died at Amesbury in 1865.
They had four children : Mara, born July 20, 1816 ; died
unmarried, Aug. 29, 1895 ; Israel, born July 20, 1817,
died May 20, 1821 ; Israel Daniel Perkins, born June 18,
1822 ; and David Lowell Dearborn, born Oct. 13, 1828.

“ He was a very successful practitioner of medicine and
surgery. For seven years he was surgeon of a regiment. He
had the largest medical library in Amesbury or vicinity.
Many young men sought his office for instruction in medi-
cine and surgery, navigation and higher mathematics. He
wrote and delivered several lectures on scientific subjects.
He was gifted with a strong scientific mind. He took out
several patents and made some very peculiar clocks. In
contriving and manufacturing surgical instruments, he ex-
hibited much ingenuity. He was a strong advocate of
temperance and a firm abolitionist.”

DR. JOSIAH LAMSON.

Dr. Josiah Lamson, the son of Josiah and Marcy (or
Mercy) (Perkins) Lamson, was born in Topsfield, Aug.
15, 1789. He was fitted for college at Bradford and
Dummer Academies, his preceptor at the latter school be-
ing Benjamin Allen, LL. D. In 1814 he was graduated at
Harvard College. The following three years he spent in
the study of medicine with Thomas Kittredge, M. D. of
Andover, Mass. He also attended the medical lectures of
the Harvard College Medical School in 1816 and 1817,
and in the autumn of 1817 received the degree of M. D.
from the Censors of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
Soon after he was invited to Chebacco (now Essex) by a
committee of the parish, and began the practice of medi-
cine there in 1818, and continued until March, 1861. He
married, first, Sept. 9, 1824 Rebecca Sargent, who died
Mar. 22, 1837, aged thirty years. On April 30, 1839, he
married, second, Betsy Dodge. He had two children :
Alvin and Mary J., and died April 16, 1870, greatly re-
spected.

30

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

DR. ELISHA HUNTINGTON.

Dr. Elisha Huntington, the son of Rev. Asahel and
Althea (Lord*) Huntington, was born in Topsfield, Apr. 9,
1796. He was fitted for college under the direction of
his father, who for nearly twenty-five years, was the de-
vout and faithful minister of Topsfield and who made it
a part of his occupation to fit young men for college. He
entered Dartmouth College at the age of fifteen, and was
graduated in the class of 1815. He studied medicine with
Doctor Bradstreet of Newburyport, and attended medical
lectures at Yale College, taking his degree in 1823. In
1824 he went to Lowell, Mass., and entered at once upon
a career of professional and official duties such as it is
rarely the fortune of one man to experience. He was em-
inent as a physician and enjoyed a large practice. While
Lowell was yet a town, he served two years as a member
of the school committee. After its incorporation as a city
he served three years as a member of the Common Coun-
cil and two terms of two years each as a member of the
school committee. He was three times elected as Aider-
man, and in 1839, during his second year as president of
the Common Council, he was elected to fill the office of
Mayor, made vacant by the death of Hon. Luther Law-
rence only a few weeks after entering upon his second
term of office. He was re-elected to fill that office in
1839, 1840, 41, 44, 45, 52, 56, 57, 58. In 1853 he was
elected Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts. For two
years he was president of the Massachusetts Medical Soci-
ety, and also for two years served as president of the
District Medical Society, having held all the minor offices
of that society. He was a most active member of the
Middlesex Mechanics Association, and was chairman of
the lecture committee for several years. He married May
31, 1825, Hannah Hinckley, daughter of Joseph and Deb-
orah (Freeman) Hinckley of Marblehead, Mass. She died
Sept. 19, 1859. Dr. Huntington died Dec. 13, 1865. Their
children were : James Freeman, born Sept. 6, 1826, mar-
ried May 30, 1848, Ellen Sophrona Whipple; Francis

*She was the daughter of Dr. Elisha Lord of Pomfret, Conn., a
distinguished physician.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

31

Cleaveland, bora June 3, 1831 ; Mary Hinckley, born
Sept. 3, 1838, married Feb. 6, 1861, Josiah Parsons
Cooke Jr., Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Harvard
University ; Isaac Mansfield, born Dec. 15, 1836, died Oct.
12, 1837 ; William Reed, born Sept. 20, 1838.

DR. HUMPHREY GOULD.

Dr. Humphrey Gould, the son of Zaccheus, jr. and Anna
(Brown) Gould, was born in Topsfield, July 3, 1797. Doc-
tor Gould, after graduating at Williams College estab-
lished himself at Danvers, and after remaining a short
time, removed to Rowe, Mass., where for about fifty years
he was an honored and influential member of the commun-
ity— a type of the “ beloved physician.” He was in close
social relations with most of the leading professional men
in Western Massachusetts and was <k universally respected
and esteemed, alike for his high moral tone, his extensive
knowledge, retentive memory and sound judgment.”

He married June 11, 1827, Electa Haynes, who was
born June 5,1800 and died Aug. 12, 1878. Doctor Gould
died Oct. 8, 1874. Their children were: Electa Haynes,
born Aug. 15, 1828, married, 1854, Wm. A. Hicks ; Han-
nah, born Dec. 18, 1836, married, 1863, Edw. Wright, and
died in 1875.

DR. JOHN AUGUSTUS LAMSON.

Dr. John Augustus Lamson, the son of John and Pris-
cilla (Averill) Lamson, was born in Topsfield, March 3,
1831. His early education was received in the local
schools, and Phillips Academy, Andover Mass. In 1853
he was graduated from Dartmouth College, and began the
study of medicine with the late Charles Haddock, M. D.
of Beverly, Mass., then entered the Boylston and Tremont
Medical Schools, Boston. He was graduated March 12,
1856, from the medical department of Harvard University
Immediately on receiving his medical degree, he was ap-
pointed one of the physicians of the “ Boston Dispensary,”
which office he held for three years. In 1861 he was ap-
pointed Examiner for Volunteers by Surgeon-General
Dale.

32

THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD,

In 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the 42d Regiment
Massachusetts Volunteers, and went into camp, but resigned
his commission before the regiment left for the seat of war
on account of impaired health from the exposure of camp
life. (All the officers and three companies of this regi-
ment were captured on arriving at Galveston, Texas, and
the surgeon who was Dr. Lamson’s successor was held in
close confinement till released by death.) He was imme-
diately re-appointed by Surgeon-General Dale as Examiner
for Volunteers. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant Ex-
amining Surgeon under the “ Conscription Act.” This
office he held until the end of the “ draft.” During the
war he examined, of volunteers, conscripts and substi-
tutes, more than 12,000 men. In September, 1863, he
was appointed the physician, chief in charge, of the “ Dis-
charged Soldiers’ Home,” from which he resigned four
years later.

He was a member of the Boston School Board ten years,
ending 1871, in which year he was elected a member of
the Legislature, and re-elected the following year,
representing the wealthiest ward of the city. The year
1873 he spent in European travel, visiting many of the
hospitals in London, Dublin, Vienna, Paris and Berlin,
and then extended his trip to Constantinople and the East.
In 1880 he was appointed Chief Medical Examiner of the
“ Equitable Life Assurance Society,” for Boston and East-
ern Massachusetts. He retired from general practice in
1893. On Oct. 18, 1876, he married Mary Elizabeth
Whitcher of Milton, Mass., the daughter of Hon. Joseph
Batchelder and Barbara Ann (Horton) Whitcher.

DR. CHARLES TREADWELL ISRAEL REA.

Dr. Charles Treadwell Israel Rea, son of Israel and
Eliza Ann M. (Whitcomb) Rea, was born in Topsfield,
Dec. 10, 1835. He entered the Harvard Medical School
in 1856 remaining there three years, and graduating in
1859 from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He
first practised at Manchester, Mass, for two years and then
removed to San Francisco, Cal., where he has since re-
sided. He married Martha R., daughter of Dr. Asa Story
of Manchester, Mass., by whom he had no children.

BY HENRY POLL ANS BEE LONG.

33

DR. GEORGE WILLIAM PERKINS.

Dr. George William Perkins, the son of Caleb Kimball
and Mary Lucinda (Peabody) Perkins, was born in Tops-
field, Jan. 6, 1860 ; fitted for college at Phillips Exeter
Academy ; was admitted to Harvard College June 30, 1879
and passed the year 1879-80 with the class of 1883 as a
freshman. He skipped the sophomore year, and joined
the class of 1882, as a junior in the fall of 1880, and grad-
uated with the class. The first two years after graduation
he held the position of assistant in biology at Harvard,
and at the same time pursued his studies at the Harvard
Medical School till June, 1885 ; in 1886 receiving the de-
gree of M. D. On June 1, 1885 he was appointed for
the usual term of eighteen months a member of the house
staff on the surgical side of the Boston City Hospital, and
at the conclusion of this service he accepted a position as
division surgeon in the medical department of the Union
Pacific Railway, with headquarters at Ogden, Utah. He
spent two months at Denver to familiarize himself with
railway medical work, reaching Ogden in September, 1886
where he resided till his death Nov. 18, 1908.

He had charge of the Company’s Hospital, located at
Ogden, for the western district of the Medical Department
which comprised about fifteen hundred miles of the Union
Pacific System in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and
Utah, along which are scattered several assistant surgeons
who send all serious cases of injury or sickness to Ogden
for treatment. He was also surgeon for the Southern
Pacific Railway at Ogden. In addition to his railway work
and private practice he did a large amount of consultation
and operative surgical work for other doctors. He was
president of the Utah State Medical Society and a vice-
president of the Harvard Medical Alumni Association.

He married at Worcester, Mass., Sept. 20, 1887, Nellie
A. Dunton. Their children were : William Albert, born
March 30, 1889 ; George Leslie, born April 1, 1890, died
April, 1909 ; Helen, born April 18, 1893 ; Arthur, born
June 14, 1895.

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS.

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE TOPSFIELD HISTORICAL
SOCIETY AT A MEETING HELD MARCH 4, 1898.

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

The first printed report of the school committee issued
by the town of Topsfield, was for the year ending March,
1839. This was in accordance with statute provision re-
cently enacted. Dr. Royal A. Merriam was chairman of
the committee and probably prepared the report.

After introductory explanation, appears the following :
“ The Committee have endeavored to follow the statute
as nearly as circumstances would allow, by visiting and
exercising such supervision as the law enjoins. In these
visits the majority of the Committee have been present at
the commencement and close of each school and once or
more about the middle of each term, as were between three
and four months in length, making their visits about once
a month. The town, not districted, maintained four
Schools from six to eight months each in the year, at an
expense of five hundred dollars for the whole. The branch-
es taught are Reading, Writing, Spelling, Defining, Geog-
raphy, Arithmetic, Grammar, History, and Philosophy.”

The “ Summer Schools ” were taught by “females,” and
the committee state that “ no complaints of dissatisfac-
tion ” have come to their knowledge. The schools, four
in number, were taught by Misses Ruth Batchelder, Mary
P. Lamson, Harriet Towne and Mary P. Towne, all na-
tives of the town. Emerson Gould taught the winter
term at the Centre school which “ was not so fully at-
tended as in years previous, there being a private Female
School kept in the vicinity.” “ There was no marring or
injury done to the buildings, not even a pane of glass
broken for the Winter.”

(34)

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS.

35

The term was sixteen weeks ; whole number of schol-
ars 79, with an average attendance of 56. The North
school was kept by Nehemiah Cleaveland Bradstreet and
the East school by Seabury T. Witt, “ a gentleman whose
literary and moral qualifications were undoubted,” but
who proved not to be a success as “ there was a failure in
a perfect control over the school.” John G. Hood pre-
sided over the exercises at the South school which “ ex-
celled in writing.” “ The several schools have been pro-
vided with a Black-board, almost a sine qua non in every
school. Indeed, there are few schools at this day without
one ; they are considered indispensible.” “ A few new
books have been furnished at the expense of the town, to
the amount of six or eight dollars.” The committee sug-
gested the propriety of engaging a “ Female Teacher ” for
the Centre school, to aid the “ Male Teacher ” when the
attendance should exceed fifty scholars, and they also
recommended that more money be expended on the sum-
mer schools as they were then more largely attended than
in the winter.

The report for the succeeding year is well written and
probably was from the pen of J. C. Batchelder. The du-
ties of parents were discussed and one paragraph reads as
follows : “ A few words concerning the policy of locating

school houses in bye and unpleasant places, would not be
inopportune. Children are beings prone to observation,
and are not so insensible to the ‘ sublime and beautiful ’
as many seem to imagine ; neither are they wanting in at-
tention to personal comfort and convenience. Every one
may perceive that a warm, pleasant and well furnished
room has more attractions than one of an opposite charac-
ter, and from a knowledge of this fact it is desirable that
more regard should be had to the situation and condition
of school houses. Every house should have a play ground
in its immediate vicinity, and much more attention should
be bestowed on the orderly arrangement and finish of
school rooms; in fine, a little care and expense would
soften the too often repulsive aspect of our school houses,
which in their present condition have a very slight re-
semblance to Minerva’s Temple of the Sciences.”

36

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

“ The North School, under the direction of Mr. Robert
Gould, like the times, appeared to be ‘ sadly out of joint/
Very little dependence could be placed on the children’s
attendance. A majority of them made their appearance
or not, as circumstances favored or opposed ; and until
parents awake to a sense of duty to their children, the best
regulated efforts of the teacher cannot be successful.”

The report for the year of 1840-41 was, in the main, a
philosophical oration on life and morals. Little informa-
tion is given as to the progress made in the several schools
during the year, but the school buildings are held up for
inspection. “ Our school houses can hardly escape the
well merited term of nuisance ; the inhabitants all lament
their condition, but nothing is done to improve them. It
is the deliberate opinion of your committee, that not one
of them is suitable for the use to which they are appro-
priated— in execrable repair, badly situated, gloomy, dirty
and old. Few are there among us who can point to our
temples of learning and exclaim, in the language of the
Roman matron, ‘ these are our jewels.’ ”

For some reason, perhaps expense, no report was printed
for the succeeding year, but the year following, 1842-3, is
particularly complete, showing the date of each visit made
to each school with the conditions existing. On July 16,
the scholars at the Centre school were found to be “in
rather a languid state.” The report fails to state what
the temperature was at that time, but probably the Far-
mer’s Almanac for that year did not read, “ about this
time expect snow.” August 14th the scholars at the Cen-
tre school were “ censured for idleness and disorder.”
The whole number of scholars attending at this time was
79 and the teacher was paid the munificent sum of $10.25
per month. The committee decided that the erection of
a new meeting house in the immediate vicinity of the
school house “ ought to be considered an extenuating cir-
cumstance ” in the matter of disorder in the school, but
the opinion is expressed that the “ disposition of the teach-
er was too amiable and indulgent ” and she was “ better
qualified to be an usher than a principal in a large school.”
During the winter term, which was taught by Humphry

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

37

Balch, the whole attendance was one hundred — but the
average attendance was much below owing to the opening
of the Topsfield Academy under Edmund F. Slafter.
School libraries were introduced into the various schools
this year and the committee suggested bringing all the
schools together on examination day, advocating the plan
as a stimulus to greater effort among the scholars.

During the winter term at the South school, two of the
larger boys headed a rebellion against the teacher, of
which the report gives an extended account saying that
4i glass was broken and some loss of hair suffered.” The
boys were suspended but the infection spread through the
neighborhood and after several conferences between the
parents and the school committee, the matter was taken
before the town at the annual meeting where, in the lan-
guage of the report, it “ was very justly frowned upon
and the article passed over.” The complainants charged
that improper modes of punishment were used by the
teacher, such as striking the head with a bound book,
pulling the hair and ears, etc. The report of the com-
mittee says, “ as to the bound book weapon, if we approve
of any corporal punishment, one would not think that a
package of paper wrapped up in a piece of sheepskin to
be a very deadly weapon ; we think we have heard of paper
bullets not being very fatal to the enemy. Nor are the
hair and ears a very vital part of the human system.”
The report also notes that various citizens have considered
that “ the affair of School Committee was a money mak-
ing business.” Whereupon a summary of work performed
is appended, which included examination of the qua, fixa-
tions of teachers, supervision of schools and studies the
making of an annual report in detail with a return to the
Commonwealth, a census of children between the ages of
four and sixteen, and monthly visitations of each school.
The chairman performed the greater part of this work and
also supplied stationary and for the previous seven years
had received from the town a total of $39. 50, an unan-
swerable statement.

“ The duty our children owe to God and themselves, or
morality and religion, without sectarian and denomina-

38 EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

national distinction, should be an important item of educa-
tion in our schools.” So says Richard Phillips, jr. in his
report for the year 1843-4, which occupies eighteen
closely printed pages and displays complacent erudition
combined with a happy commendation of both teachers
and scholars. According to the report, the schools were
in a highly flourishing condition. The establishment of
a high school to be opened only in the winter was advo-
cated.

The following year Charles Herrick was chairman.
Nothing other than ordinary was noted in the report save
the fact that a new school house soon was to be built in
the North district and the recommendation made that the
new building be located on some different site. Of the
one hundred and ten scholars who attended the Centre
school, twenty- three are mentioned as being but four
years of age. The new Centre school house erected in the
fall of 1844 is mentioned and spoken of as well adapted
to the wants of the district. The expenditure for teachers
was $570.00

John G. Hood, who had recently taught in the public
schools, wrote the report for the year ending March, 1846.
His “ general remarks” at its close were highly practical.
He censured the custom followed by some parents who
took their children from the Centre school when they had
reached an age at which they could be employed at a
mechanical trade. He condemned the policy that “ turned
out ” these imperfectly educated boys to become towns-
men, parts of society, on whom the public duties of the
community would soon devolve. “ Our Republican Insti-
tutions are depending on the intelligence and popular
will for their continuance and usefulness. Therefore how
important it is, that the rising generation should be
well instructed, both in moral and intellectual knowledge.
This, though of so much importance, appears by many to
be lost sight of or totally disregarded, and sinks into
insignificance when compared with dollars and cents.”

But while the chairman of the school board severely
criticised the money making parent he did not spare the
thoughtless and superficial mind, for he says : — “ There

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

39

is, in the community, a very strong inclination on the
part of pupils, and in some instances of parents and
teachers, to attend to some of the higher branches and
thereby become superficial or merely white washed. This
needs counteracting ; no scholar should be allowed or even
encouraged to omit the common useful branches in order
to study the ornamental and less useful. Common Arith-
metic should not be made second to Algebra, nor English
Grammer to Logic and Rhetoric. After a knowledge of
Reading, Spelling, Defining, Writing, Grammar and
Geography is obtained, which is a firm basis for an Eng-
lish Education, then and not till then should scholars
aspire to higher branches. By an examination of
some schools and scholars, it might be inferred that a
new highway to obtain knowledge had been opened, which
would entirely cut off the old fundamental branches, and
in their place be substituted the elegant, towering and
refined.” This seems to have been aimed at the North
district* where for the past few years, the scholars taught
during the winter term by college students, had revelled
in the glories of latin, greek, algebra, geometry, astron-
omy and kindred studies. It is noticeable that the fol-
lowing year found but one scholar in the town, and he in
the North district, applying himself to latin, and but
three who studied algebraic forms while geometry was
a thing unknown. Meanwhile improvements were taking
place. New school houses were being built and the report

grows reminiscent “ for the old houses will soon be

numbered among the things that were, and known only
in history, as one after another of these time-worn and
* boy-abused ’ edifices are annually giving place to their
neat, gay and youthful competitors.”

Little of note is recorded for the following year. Both
teachers and scholars seem to have quietly moved along
the “even tenor of their way.” The new North school
house was occupied for the first time during the winter
term of 1846-7, and the report remarks on “ the height of
the room and the means afforded for ventilation.” When
one considers the architectural barrenness of the average
“ district school” and holds in mind the present outlying

40

EARLY TOPSF1ELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

school houses, the following extract from this report
seems a little in the nature of adulation.

“ The last school house is now under contract (the
East), on the completion of which, if it falls not behind its
temporaries, our Town will have school houses not infe-
rior, but commanding, fascinating and attractive, and to
which we can point with admiration, as forts in which our
children will have the principles of virtue, morality and
religion inculcated, which will ever be a sure national de-
fence for our Republican Institutions.”

For the school year ending March 13, 1848 there was
no printed report made to the town. A few years ago
John H. Towne had the manuscript put into type at his
expense and a small edition was struck off. The name of
Rev. Anson McLoud appears for the first time as commit-
teeman and at frequent intervals in the following years,
his interest in the public schools never flagging. As
his name heads the list he probably was chairman of the
committee as well might become his influential position
in town. “We were much pleased with the correctness
and apparent intelligence with which important moral
lessons in rhyme, and some beautiful passages from the
scriptures were repeated.” So says the report of the
North school taught by Miss Clarissa H. Towne.

Mr. McLoud, politic man that he was, gave the town
great praise for their recent efforts in building new school
houses, and then proceeded to suggest that there were
other things needed. “You have done nobly in erecting
four new school houses within the space of four years.
No country town in this immediate neighborhood, perhaps
none in the county and few in the state are so well fur-
nished with neat, tasteful, comfortable, convenient school
houses as Topsfield. It is worthy of note and reflects
honor upon our citizens that these four houses have been
built without opposition or wrangling, yea, with the
hearty good will of all. We hope the suggestion will not
be out of place to people who have shown so much
patriotism and liberality in building the houses, that they
take a little pains to ornament the grounds on which the
houses stand. Let the people of each neighborhood set

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

41

out a few shade trees in proper locations immediately.
Let the yards be bordered with rose bushes and shrubbery.”
How well his suggestion was received and acted upon is
well known.

“ Singing has been employed in the Centre School with
admirable effect ” says the report for the next year, which
also says “ we regard Mr. Berry as a first rate teacher,
but think it would tend to the improvement of his school
if he would prohibit the communications of the scholars
with each other, and also would rely a little less upon
concert recitations.” Excellent advice.

The winter term of the North school at times must
have been rather exciting for the report in mild language
regrets that any of the scholars should have been deficient
in respectful deportment due to a teacher, at the same
time deploring the fact that the teacher should have been
injudicious in his management and hasty and harsh of
speech. The larger scholars were the flies in this
pedagog’s ointment. The report announces a discovery
which it were well that parents, even at the present day,
would ever bear in mind. “ We believe that instances
have been found in the history of our race, of children
who had no very scrupulous regard for the truth.” An
important fact ; and the report goes still further and says,
** parents may prevent much disturbance in the neighbor-
hood, much trouble to the teacher, and much shame and
chagrin on their own part, if they will search a little after
the unvarnished truth, before they give way to passion and
resentment.” Mr. McLoud then lays down this axiom —
children who have a descent bringing up at home, never
have quarrels and disturbances at school, either with the
teacher, or with other scholars.”

The Scotch blood of the worthy pastor came to the
surface in his summary this year, and his pen was forged
into a Damascene blade with which to bring confusion to
the non-progressive element in town. It all grew out of
an attempt by the committee to introduce into the schools,
at their own expense, a system of weekly report cards
now considered so essential. It appears that the commit-
tee, with childlike innocence, supposed each parent would

42

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

take to the innovation as ducks to the brook, but in this
they were sadly mistaken. Mr. McLoud most picturesque-
ly describes the furor raised among the parents of the
scholars. “ Some of the parents regarded the cards as an
innovation, and therefore mischievous. Some looked upon
them as anti-scriptural, and therefore wicked. Some
thought they were tyrannical and arbitrary, and therefore
in conflict with the Immortal Declaration of Independ-
ence and the glorious Constitution. Some believed them
a crafty device by which they should be certified when
their children had played truant, or had behaved badly in
school, or had neglected their lessons, and therefore an
abomination. At first it was proposed to issue the cards
regularly, but learning that they were deemed such
mighty engines of evil, fraught with ruin to all our polit-
ical, social, and religious interests, we directed the teach-
ers not to insist upon a parent’s signing them, but to keep
the weekly record on the cards, notwithstanding. One
of the teachers who had opposed the introduction of the
cards, after a few weeks took the responsibility of laying
them aside, and we felt like sympathizing with him rather
than censuring him, for he had made such a ridiculous
mistake in filling out the blanks, and withal had used
such awkward chirography, that it must have been ex-
tremely mortifying to him to send them round weekly to
all the families.”

Mr. McLoud prepared the reports for the next two
years, and had little to offer of an unusual nature. “ A
young man from Lynn ” tried to teach the East school
for the winter term of 1850-1, and proved to be a weak
member, so that the chairman gave him his discharge
papers at the end of the first three days.

Richard Phillips, jr., took charge of the educational
responsibilities of the town at the next annual town
meeting, and at the close of the year presented a super-
lative report. Mr. Phillips’ command of adjectives, added
to a happy faculty for euphonious phrases, gave to the
report a most glittering effect.

Dr. Merriam succeeded to Mr. Phillips’ editorial shoes,
and reported to the town that the committee had discov

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

43

ered things that called loudly for improvement. He se-
verely criticised the lack of thoroughness and the veneer
of various ornamental studies which had been pursued to
the neglect of the three R’s. An epidemic of scarlet fever
prevailed about the town and interfered with the attend-
ance, although nothing is said regarding the closing of the
schools owing to its contagious character.

In 1855, Dr. Merriam, on writing the report, began as
follows : “We would that you were either cold or hot ;

that you would either praise or censure our Reports ; that
you would read and make your comments. We have
been making Reports year after year concerning the con-
dition of the mental and moral developments of those
young immortals for whom you profess to have great
anxiety, and yet hardly take the pains to peruse a short
account of a year’s teaching, whether it be for weal or for
woe. We believe this Report is not all honey-sweetened,
nor vinegar-acidulated.” The worthy doctor spoke truly,
for his summary preserved a happy medium of criticism
and praise. But a new star of transcendant brilliancy
soon appeared above the horizon and began to shed its
rays of wisdom on the town through the medium of the
school report. “ Squire ” Holmes, who, like his illustrious
legal predecessor, Sylvanus Wildes of lawful memory,
ever enjoyed the delights of a perpetual vacation from
exacting legal cares, began to favor the town with choice
specimens of his curious wit. The report for 1857 was
the first of the series, and the “ Squire,” being a bit un-
familiar with his task, hardly reached the eloquent pace
he afterward attained.

“ Our first visit was directed to the Centre school, kept
by Ellen M. Perley. As we neared the school house,

‘ with measured steps and slow,’ in all the consequential
dignity of office, our ears were saluted with an increasing
murmur. Like the good lady who, arrayed in a new
dress, entered the church just as the minister was saying,

‘ the Lord have mercy on us,’ and supposing he must be
speaking of what she was thinking, exclaimed, ‘ the Lord
of mercy on us ! — didn’t you ever see a new gown be-
fore?’ We presumed the noise was occasioned by the

44

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

timely discovery of our anticipated advent by some ‘look
out,’ and in honor of our exalted selves. On our entrance
the illusion was quickly dissipated by the uproarious
demonstration of joy at our arrival, not as honoring us,
but dishonoring the school by availing themselves of the
occasion for confusion. A few pursued their studies
with stoical indifference, while the majority were assidu-
ously determining the flexibilities of which their bodies
were susceptible. Suggesting the importance of good
order, we departed.”

The average attendance at the East school being eight,
the “ Squire ” says of the teacher : “ Having been faith-

ful over a few things, we trust she will as deservedly
rule over many.” The national standard floated over
the North school house on examination day, the interior
was decorated with evergreens and potted plants and
crowded with parents and children from all parts of the
town, and honored by the presence of the clergy. “ In
fact,” says the report, “ it was a glorious day for the
‘city ’ and will form an era in its educational annals.”

Mr. Holmes grew reminiscent while discussing the
South school and remarked that “ it will be recollected
that this school was, the previous winter, under the tyran-
nic rule of the gentleman of the ‘ rueful countenance,’
who, it seems, was Daniel Wilkins of Littleton, N. H.
The chairman, the previous year, states that Wilkins
possessed “ an austere countenance,” so possibly the
“ Squire ” was justified in quoting Don Quixote.

The glories of the old Topsfield Academy have been
celebrated so recently that the opinion of that honored
institution held by the school committee of 1857 is cer-
tainly of interest. While moralizing on the recently
awakened interest in education, the chairman continues :
“ We do not assume to ourselves the propulsion of this
movement, but ascribe it, rather, to the self-awakening
of the citizens whose gullibility has been so long prac-
ticed on, in the pomps, fetes, high solemnities, and other
inflations of superficial academic teachers.”

But Chairman Holmes, in a footnote, confesses his
weakness and gives way to spleen. He had been giving

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

45

the town an example of his acute mind in describing the
principle of “ pedal suction,” as he styles it. While
reading Dr. Kane’s polar narrative, he found that
work stated that the walrus, having a weight of three
thousand pounds or more, made its way up the perpendic-
ular, polished surface of ice and rock by its tusks, where-
upon the “ Squire ” gave an eloquent description of the
“ pedal suction ” principle, using as an example the house
fly. He speaks of his amazement on finding that the
Edinburgh Encyclopaedia did not agree with him, but took
sides with Dr. Kane, and then goes on to say : “ I ad-

dressed a letter in January last to the editor of the N. Y.
Tribune, embodying this statement ; but he was so trans-
cendentalized with the immensity of his gastronomic de-
velopments, the garnered accumulation doubtless of his
consortion with the Catos of the land, that my communi-
cation was unheeded.” Had Horace Greeley chanced
upon this confession, what a smile would have spread
over his benign countenance.

Nearly ten years passed before the “Squire” was

given an opportunity to write another school report. He

seemed to have filled “ a long felt want,” and filled it to

a satiety. In 1865 he again came to the front, and

opens his report with a description of his visit to the
Centre primary school kept by Miss Mary E. Gould.
“ At the accustomed monitions, the children resolved
themselves into ‘ position,’ with all the grave demeanor
of a society of beavers, rising with military precision to
the enaction of the ‘ gymnastic drill,’

While boy and girl, with stentor lung,

The ‘ Glory Hallelujah ’ sung.

These interesting flummeries were succeeded by the reci-
tations, then came the grand racy caper on the common.”

As superintendent of all the schools he wrote, “ In-
stead of the glib analytic ‘ amplifications ’ of our fash-
ionable schools, so delicious to the scholastic a la mode
exquisite, we have substituted the study of spelling, read-
ing, writing, parsing and transposing the English lan-
guage according to Murray. It may be old-fashioned,
but some how or other we cannot get round old Murray.

46

EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

In lieu of quadratic equations, we have wrought taxes,
measured wood and timber, triangulated distances, and,
in a word, leaving excelsiorites to the excelsiori, we have
directed our attention to the simples of our own sphere,
squaring up these things to the very root.

“ Again, assuming corporal punishment to be indispen-
sable, not as a universal remedy, but in extreme cases,
still with striking reminiscences of the development of
craniologic bumps by the application of hard rules, I
would recommend that these rules be so applied as not
to create a distorted, but nicely proportioned and well
balanced head. . . .

“ The subject of our Centre school house has been
under consideration for years.

“The idea of the present edifice, like that of the unique
structure on the nether end of our church, originated in
the concentrated wisdom of certain Topsfield geniuses,
who for their efforts in edificial originality procured them-
selves the legitimate titular appendage of ‘ pillars of the
church and parish,’ giving to the world a new order of
architecture dominated The Whim.

“ The nowhere, no-how location of the house has called
forth unqualified expressions of wonder at the peculiar in-
genuity of these savans in devising so perfect a represent-
ation of the versatility of our people. Still, without de-
tracting from their general conceptions, I would saj7" in all
honesty that the architects or their eulogists are here sad-
ly at fault, since the very vanes of our churches on * The
Common,’ by some mysterious mesmeric polarity of con-
gergated and methodic will, or other determined super-
natural spiritual agency, turn persistently in opposite di-
rections, in spite of wind or weather, in utter recusancy.

“ The exterior form of the building, with the door be-
yond the centre, was suggested, probably by the Roman
steelyard with its principle of balanced justice and privi-
lege, and wrought into edificial use by the same convert-
ing power of genius that conceived and effected the Ionian
order of architecture from the contemplation of a lady’s
curls, or the Corinthian from a vase of flowers, or the
elder Chaldaic from the palm tree.

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

47

“ The portal of the house, more expressive than that of
the temple of Janus at Rome, open at all times, indicates
the elemental freedom arising from popular liberty.

“ The interior economical arrangement presents itself
at the entry, in the ingenious device of the garret with its
magazine of wood, borne up to be thrown down, projected
in the prescience of coming events, to initiate the young
in the art of war, and how one well posted could contend
against 4 fearful odds.’

« As one enters the rooms he is struck with the com-
prehensive economy of the conception, in the practical
solution of the problem by which a thing is made to hold
more than it will contain, and the great facilities for the
communication of knowledge with two in a seat and three
in the middle, including illustrations of double position
and double proportion, and the rising inflection with model
artist exhibitions of primitive Hottentotal statuary.

“ Nor need I name the peculiar arrangement for the
diffusion of heat and cold with geographic elucidations of
the torrid and frigid zones, and other scientific devices.
This monument of mighty conception may pass away, ‘ sic
transit gloria mundi,’ but the evidence of the spirit that
prompted, and the genius that executed, will ever be en-
stamped on the hearts of a grateful people.”

Much interesting and curious matter may be found in
other reports of the school committee, but space will not
permit its collection at this time. No account of the
school reports of the town of Topsfield could be complete,
however, without reference to the famous report made to
the town in March, 1867, and written by “Squire”
Holmes, a report for many years treasured in the office
of the Salem Gazette, the place of its nativity, as one of
the educational curiosities of the period.

“ The Primary Centre school, summer and winter,
was instructed by Miss Mary E. Gould, of Topsfield. Un-
der the guidance of this master-hand in genuine philoso-
phic simplicity, the school presented the same phases of
unvarying successful advancement as in former years,
from the dissonant mouthings of half-fledged juvenile artic-
ulation, through the winding passages of syllabicism, to

48 EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS,

the Mount Hope of spell-reading ; the same grateful inter-
spersion of gymnastic, vocal, recessive and studious enac-
tion, rendering every exercise equally a pastime, and ro-
mancing the reality of first efforts in dry study. . . .

“ Miss Unis L. Tandy, of Groveland, succeeded Miss
H [apgood] in the guidance of the South school during the
winter season. Miss T. was an enthusiastic, energetic, so-
cial and decidedly plucky young lady, * laying out’ one of
the biggest boys the first week, and hesitating not to re-
main with her charge, in the storm-beleaguered school-
house, during one of the most tempestuous nights of the
past winter. In fact, with a peculiar force of character,
she threw herself into teaching as a matter of business,
not only conducting her school admirably, and bestowing
thorough instruction to the very root of the matter, but,
by coercives and suasives at school, socializing with the
mammas at their homes, fraternizing with every one, she
greatly popularized herself and the school, arousing an al-
most unprecedented educational interest in the district,
evinced by the general 4 turn-out’ at the examination. . . .

“ The North school, summer term, commenced under
the guidance of Miss Anna C. D. Holmes, of Ipswich,
who, although considered a competent teacher, did not
exactly suit the ‘ City’ people, who, nurtured in the school
of republican freedom, could ill brook the stern discipline
and unfamiliar indignities perpetrated on ‘ them and
theirs’ — but one, and then another, till the whole popula-
tion en masse, little and big, man and woman and child,
whispered, murmured, threatened, denounced, and at last
rising like a volcano, burst with fiery indignation into
open rebellion, kicking up a great dust in all the region
round about. So frantically intense was the convulsion,,
that the very animals, and even the elements conspired in
sympathetic expressiveness. The geese, whose ancestors
saved Rome, with conscious political importance, loudly
vociferated, quack ! quack ! quack! The turkey, that true
Native American , with indigenous consequential pride,
gobbled about the calamities of foreign participation. The
sheep, aroused from their quietude by the passing events,
looking askance, gave a contemptuous bah ! The horse in-

BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

49

dicated his course by a racy yet positive neigh . Chanti-
cleer, crested and spurred, and red with ire, from an emi-
nence blew his clarion note of defiance ; and the dog and
cat, fraternizing in the common cause, duetted a caterwaul-
ing howl of execration. The bellicose bull ‘ tossed a horn’
to the success of the enterprise, while the pacific guinea
hen, in the spirit of the true kindliness, cried out earnestly,
go back! go back! go back!

“ Nor these alone, for Trinity River itself, that evangeli-
cal stream, swollen with rage, bursting forth in a torrent
of wrathful outpouring, whirled and boiled, and eddied in
irascible frothings threatening the City mole of « Long
Wharf with demolition. To appease the tutelar Deity of
the City, and relieve it from such an impending visitation,
it was judged expedient to throw the mistress overboard,
Jonah-like, whereupon a great calm ensued.”

THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD.

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

Our present bridges are the result of gradual changes,
from the “ old ford way ” and “ plank bridge,” necessitated
by the improved facilities of transportation. The demand
for some means of crossing “dry shod” at first resulted
in “ stepping stones,” or a fallen log was utilized, and
later a plank was laid across, this in turn being supple-
mented by another plank. The early records speak of
“ allowing ” this person, or that person, “ two pounds nine
shillings,” or some other amount, for “ mending the high-
ways ” with plank. In this way, the early bridge, con-
sisting of a single plank, was gradually widened into a
rude “ cart bridge.” Because of this gradual process of
growth it is impossible to discover on the early records
the exact date of the building of any of our earliest bridges.

Some of the early bridges were constructed of slabs,
as we are led to believe from the record under date of
Nov. 1, 1725 when “The Town allowed to Jacob Averill
three shillings & six pence for Slabs to mend the bridge
near to Deac. Howletts.” Under the same date, we find
that Daniel Gould was allowed “ two shillings & six pence
for two Logs to mend the bridge near to Mr. John Capens
house.” Under date of March 7, 1681 or 82, we find that
“ John ffranch & John Townes are chosen to besiruiouers
for ffences and hie ways & bridges for this yeare insuing.”
Probably the first bridge built was the bridge across the
Ipswich river, now known as Batch’s bridge, as mention
is made of it as early as 1653. Mile Brook bridge on
Perkins street was probably the second, first mention of
it being under date of April 8, 1667. The first order
to build a bridge was in “ 1668 or 69,” when the bridge
on Ipswich street over Howlett’s Brook, was made. Many
of the bridges were built when the streets on which they

(50)

THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD.

51

are located were laid out. The bridges on the Turnpike
were built by the Corporation in 1804 and 1805, with the
exception of the Stone bridge.

The Ipswich River Bridges.

Rowley Bridge. This bridge, so called from the fact
that the Rowley town line ran near it before 1700, is the
first bridge in Topsfield coming down the river. This
bridge is mentioned in a deed Jan’y 1, 1695. We find no
record of its building, but under date of March 6, 1764,
we find the following record. “ To see if the Town will
help Deac George Bixby & others Mend & keep in Repair
the Bridge a Crost the River in Topsfield called Rowley
Bridg agreable to a petision that may be Prefared to the
Town by the said George Bixby and others.” Again, un-
der date of May 9, 1774, it was “voted that the bridge
across ye River, call Rowley bridge shall be new built
this present year.” May 26, 1806, it was voted that Dan-
iel Bixby, Benjamin Pike and Henry Bradstreet be a
committee to rebuild the bridge, “in the year 1807 — fif-
teen feet wide with a Stone Pier in the middle.”

Balch’s Bridge. The bridge over the river on Salem
street, variously known as the Town bridge, Wooden
bridge and Walsh’s bridge, is first mentioned March 80,
1653, when the court records speak of “ the great bridg
which the said Walter Ropper built and cartwaye over the
river towards the south.” October 21, 1682, the select-
men were ordered to appear at court to “ shew the cause
of the defect, why a bridge upon the road betweene Salem
and Topsfield is not repaired.” At a town meeting held
May 23, 1718, “theare made Choys of Jacob Town
Ephraim Wills and John Curtis a commity to uew and to
set a uallaution aCording to there best Skill and Judg-
ment of what ye cost may amount to in rebuilding and re-
pairing our Bridg and Caseway ouer Ipswich reuer and
prefar the same With a petition to y® honored Court of
qurter Seshition to be holden at Salam in June next in-
suing the date hereof to see whether ye honored court
will asist us with help from the country so that we may
be inabeled to rebuild the aboue said Bridge and case way.”

52

THE BRIDGES IN T0P8FIELD,

July 9, 1718, another meeting was called to see “which
way the Town will rebuild the Bridg ouer the riuer.” At
the meeting, Isaac Pebody, Ephraim Wills and Simon Brad-
street were “ chosen a comitie,” “ to agree with carpenters
to build ye Bridge ouer ye Riuer.” Under date of Octo-
ber 31, 1718, we find that, “The Town alowed to Mr
Isaac Peabody, Qrtmr Ephraim Willds and Mr Simon
Bradstreet twenty fiue pounds nine shillings for Building
ye Bridg.” In 1728 the bridge was again repaired, for
we find under date of April 2, 1728 that, “ Capt Joseph
Gould is Chosen to Provide Plank two inches & a half
thick and fourteen foot Long ; good white oak Plank to
Cover sd Bridge.” The town petitioned the “ court holden
at Ipswich ” for a “ grant of money to repair Town
Bridge,” March 17,1727-8. David Balch was chosen, De-
cember 18, 1728, “ to take care of the Towns timber near
the town bridge so called.” The bridge was rebuilt in
1805. Tradition says that an old ford way existed at a
very early date, about one hundred and fifty feet below
the present bridge.

Stone Bridge. The bridge sometimes called the Arch
bridge or Turnpike bridge, was built in 1853, at a cost
of $3,658.54, the Town paying $1,245.54, and the County
the balance. The first bridge at this spot was of wood,
and was built by the Newburyport Turnpike Corporation,
in 1803 or 1804. It was washed away seven or eight
years afterwards and again in December, 1837 it was par-
tially destroyed.

Towne’s Bridge crosses the river at High street. The
records do not show when this bridge was built, and it
may be presumed that a bridge did not exist here prior to
1771, for in that year bricks were hauled over Grass hill
to build the chimney of the Bradstreet house. Direct
mention, however, is made to this bridge on July 15, 1809,
when Joshua Town “had with our consent laid out and
fenced a certain road or way of the width of 3 rods lead-
ing from a bridge lately erected by said Joshua over Ip-
swich river in said Topsfield over our land on the S. side
of sd River to land now belonging to the widow Sarah
Fisk.”

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

53

Railroad Bridge. The bridge on which the Boston
and Maine railroad crosses the river is sometimes known
as the “Iron Bridge.” The present structure was con-
structed by the Boston Bridge Works in 1888. In the
month of February, 1855, a heavy freshet destroyed the
first bridge built the previous year, so that for a portion
of the month no trains passed through Topsfield. The
second bridge was built at this time.

Lamson’s Bridge, over which Asbury street crosses, is
named from the family of that name, who have lived in
this vicinity for two hundred and fifty years. Felt, in
his History of Ipswich, says that in 1730 a cart bridge
was “ built over the river by Jonathan Lamson and oth-
ers.” April 3, 1780, “ The Town allowed to Mr Peletiah
Cummings four pounds twelve shillings for forty six feet
of plank used in covering Lamson’s bridge.” November
4, 1813, it was voted that a new bridge be built over the
river. This bridge was probably completed in 1814, for
under date of March 1, 1814, appears further mention of
the “ new bridge.”

Miscellaneous Bridges.

Dry Bridge. So called from the fact of its bridging
Howlett street where the Turnpike crosses. Under date
of April 1, 1805, it was voted, “To grant liberty to the
Newburyport Turnpike Corporation to erect a dry bridge
across the road near Joseph Andrews, provided it is done
to the reasonable satisfaction of the selectmen and Sylva-
nus Wildes, Isaac Averill and Joseph Andrews and all
persons immediately concerned or the major part of
them.”

Mile Brook Bridge crosses Mile brook on Perkins
street, east from the junction of Perkins and Ridge streets.
The first mention of this bridge is at a meeting held
April 8 1667 when, “ The Towne granted Liberty to
William Aueriell and Daniell Borman to make a dame at
the Mile brooke a rode and a halfe aboue the bridge to
float there medow prouided it be no damige to the town.”
The bridge was repaired in 1701. Dec. 18, 1728, Nathan-
iel Averill was allowed “ six shillings and two pence,” for

54

THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD,

u two string pieces and eight slabs to mend Mile Brooke
bridge in 1728.” This bridge was used as a bound in
deeds of land in 1711.

Fish Brook Bridge is at the boundary line between
Boxford and Topsfield on River street. In a deed dated
December 27, 1662, a piece of land is spoken of as being
bounded by “ Curtice’s Bridge.” Presumably this was
Fish Brook bridge. Mention of this bridge is made again
in 1767, as Fish Brook bridge. It was rebuilt in 1805.

Wheel Brook Bridge carries Salem street over the
brook at the foot of Dwinell’s hill, so called. The first
mention of this bridge is on September 21, 1742, when
“ The Town allowed to Thomas Dwinel one pound Ten
shillings old Tenor for Timber to mend Wheel Brook
Bridge in ye year 1741.”

Bridge over Howlett’s Brook on Ipswich street,
just below the junction of Perkins Street. From the fol-
lowing record it appears that a bridge existed here very
early, for under date of “ye 2 march 1668 or 69, it is
also ordered and agreed apon With Ensigne Thomas How-
lett that thay will make and maintaine a bridge ouer ye
Brooke by Ensignes house in ye way as wee goe to Ip-
swich ye one halfe to be don by the Towne and the other
halfe by ye sd Ensigne.” December 18, 1728, this bridge
is spoken of as the bridge “ by Deaen Howletts,” and
under date of May 16, 1786, Capt. Thomas Cummings was
allowed,” ten shillings and five peuce for 67 feet of white
oake plank used in mending Hobbs Bridge (so called).”

Nichols’ Brook Bridge, is now in Middleton, but
for a number of years was in Topsfield. It is on the
Copper Mine road. March 5, 1705/6 “The Town agreed
to free all ye Inhabitants onye South west side of Nicholls
Brook from highway worke on ye north East Side of said
Brook for this year provided they maintain the Bridge
over sd Nichollses Brook and the rest of the highways and
Bridges on that side of ye sd Nichollses Brook.”

Falls Bridge is on North street, near Ipswich street,
at the mill pond. The first mention of this bridge is

BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG.

55

under date of June 22, 1714, when North street was laid
out. The record reads, “We whose names are under-
writen have lay’d out a highway from ye common Land
aforesd over the falls Bridg so called up the Hill to the
lift and fence, near Deac Dormans and Mr. Isaac Pea-
bodys fence.” In 1724, under date of December 15th,
Capt. Thomas Baker was allowed “ seven shillings & Six
pence for Timber to mend the falls Bridge in 1724.”

Gallup’s Brook Bridge is on Haverhill street, where
it crosses Pie brook, more recently known at this point as
Gallup’s brook, because Israel Gallup lived near this
bridge over fifty years ago. The bridge was probably
built in March, 1668 or 69, when the road was laid out,
although no record of its building exists.

Boardman’s Bridge on Ipswich street, at the crossing
of the Turnpike. The first mention of this bridge is on
October 8, 1717, when a road was laid out, “from the
Road that is lay’d through Mr. Peabodys Land and Jesse
Dormans Land to Ipswich to the Bridg to Jacob Pea-
bodys Land, etc.” This bridge was repaired in 1783 and
in 1813. At a town meeting held May 15, 1826, it was
“voted to build a stone bridge in the place of the wooden
one near Messr8 Peabody’s mills, called Boardman’s bridge,
and Ephraim Perkins, David Hobbs, Junr., and John
Potter were chosen a committee to build said bridge.”

Bridge over Gallup’s Brook off Haverhill
Street. A bridge was built, “over the brook back of
Ivory Hovey’s,” on Jan. 13, 1709. “March 17, 1789,”
The Town voted that the Surveyors of High- ways Shall
build a Bridge across the Brook near the House that was
occupied by Ivory Hovey and repair the Road from said
Brook to the Country Road in Some Convenient place in
order that Stephen Perley, and others may pass, and re-
pass as they shall have occassion. Provided Mr. Thomas
Emerson gives from under his hand in writing that said
Perley, and all other persons may pass and repass from
time to time as they shall have occasion.”

Great Pond Bridge is near Hood’s pond on Pond
street. This bridge may have been built in March, 1668

56

THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD.

or 69 when Pond street was built. In a deed of land
sold in 1654, and recorded March 14, 1662, appears the
following description of the parcel. “ 6 acres meadow
lying about the middle of Mr. Bakers pond where the
highway bridge comes,” March 3, 1729/30 Jesse Dorman
was allowed five shillings, “for Timber to Mend the
bridge by ye Great Pond so called in 1729.” March 3,
1746/7, “ The Town allowed to Deacon Hovey Ten Shib
lings old Tenor for Timber to Mend the Bridge by the
Great Pond in 1745.”

Zaccheus Perkins’ Bridge. This bridge is off Pros-
pect street, toward the old “ Hubbard house,” so called.
At a town meeting held March 1, 1714/5 “The Town
agreed that So long as Zacheus Perkins doth maintain a
sufficient Cart Bridge over the Brook by his House, So
long said Perkins Shall be freed from other Highway
Work in the Town.”

At a town meeting held November 17, 1727 “The
town allowed to Samuel Smith two Shillings for Timber
to mend the Bridge Near the Meeting-house,” no doubt
over the brook immediately in the rear. Under date of
Sept. 7, 1694, “Sargt Houlet propounded for a draine
crose the way from his field to mr Capens meadow and
ye said Howlet engaged to make a bridg ouer it, and kep
in repaire at his owne cost and charg ; the inhabitence
here preasent did mannifest thare free consent.” Numerous
small bridges or culverts have been built from time to
time of which no account is here taken. The dry bridge,
on which the railroad crosses West street, was built in
1854 and was replaced in 1888 by the present iron bridge.
When the railroad was constructed, a “ cow pass ” was
built under the roadbed near the oak grove between
Washington street and West street, now owned by Henry
B. Williams, but this was filled up a number of years ago.
A bridge that existed in the 17th century, carries Maple
street over the unnamed brook that flows southerly from
the Village to the river. This bridge has been variously
known as “ Foster’s ” and “ Poker ” or “ Porker ” bridge.
According to tradition it is associated with Parson
Capen’s encounter with the Devil during witchcraft times.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM N.
CLEAVELAND.

“ Died February 10th [1872], at his home in Boxford,
William Neale Cleaveland, aged seventy-four.” Such,
the brief record of the daily obituary. Many who knew
Mr. Cleaveland will feel that something more than this
passing notice is due to his memory. He was not, indeed,
in the usual sense of the phrase, a public man, — neither
could his life be regarded as specially eventful. Those,
however, who knew what he was, will hardly doubt that
had he been less modest, or more ambitious, he could
easily have played a part in legislation or in politics, nor
can it be doubted that those energies of mind and will,
which gave to him the leadership in a small community,
would have made him conspicuously useful on a wider
stage.

He was the son of Dr. Nehemiah and Mrs. Experience
Cleaveland, and was born in Topsfield, Essex County,
Mass., on the 6th of April, 1798. From parents of more
than ordinary intelligence and worth, he inherited a vig-
orous constitution, both bodily and mental. At the
proper age, he had the proffer of a college education,
which a needless distrust of his own capacities, and the
feeling, perhaps, that duty pointed in a different direc-
tion, led him to decline. Beside the town school, he at-
tended, for a while, the Bradford and Atkinson Acade-
mies. Probably his most efficient training, both moral
and intellectual, was the kindly discipline and unconscious
culture of the paternal household, with its unceasing and
wholesome activities of thought, reading and conversa-
tion. For two or three winters he taught school, very
acceptably. Then he took charge of his father’s little
farm. He was strong and skillful, and performed with
his own hands a vast amount of labor. Called to take an
active part in town and parish affairs, he early evinced

(57)

58 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM N. CLEVELAND.

great aptitude for business, combined with a praiseworthy
independence of thought and action.

In 1829, he was married to Miss Harriet Perley of Box-
ford. No one, whose memory reaches back to that period,
needs to be told that farmers, in those days, had a hard
time, or will think it strange that this young husband
sought for some employment which promised better re-
turns. Very soon after his marriage, he removed to Kil-
lingly, Conn. There, with a young partner of some expe-
rience in the business, he reared a small mill for the
spinning and weaving of cotton. This mill stood where,
a few years later, the Danielson ville Manufacturing Com-
pany erected their large factory. After two years of
hard work and of very successful operations, he sold out
to his partner and returned to Essex County.

Mr. Gorham Parsons had, just before, come into pos-
session of the small, but once famous, water power, at the
head of tide- water in the Parker River, Newbury, and in
conjunction with the ingenious and celebrated Paul
Moody of Lowell, had rebuilt dam and mill. The spot
might well be dear to Mr. Moody, for there he was born,
and there he had served his apprenticeship to the great
Jacob Perkins, in the rude little shop which produced and
sent forth the first nails ever made by mechanical power.
Of Mr. Parson’s mill Mr. Cleave land took a seven years’
lease, and with the late Mr. Solomon Wildes of Boston,
as a silent partner, proceeded to stock it with machinery
for the manufacture of cotton cloth. In this responsible
position, involving the care and control of many individ-
uals, and demanding a constant exercise of judgment and
skill, he showed himself to be a very efficient superin-
tendent. But though he succeeded, so far as production
was concerned, he was unable to make the business profit-
able. Under the disastrous influence of the “ Compro-
mise ” (so called), American manufactures were then fast
declining, and when that lease expired, that influence had
culminated in universal stagnation and wide-spread ruin.
As nothing to encourage its continuance was visible in
prospect, the enterprise was given up.

In 1842, Mr. Cleaveland returned to his early home,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OP WILLIAM N. CLEVELAND. 59

which still remained in the family, and which continued to
be his place of residence for the next thirteen years.
Here he was variously occupied. There was still some
land to be cared for. He planted orchards and some or-
namental trees, and superintended those alterations and
improvements, which soon made the old house and its
surroundings an object of rare attraction. Awake to
every call of kindness and of duty, he approved himself a
good husband, father, neighbor, and citizen. After the
construction of the Danvers and Georgetown Railroad, he
was made a director of the company, holding for several
years the office of treasurer, in which capacity he had a
great deal to do with the management of the road.

In 1856, he removed to East Boxford, and settled, for
the rest of his life, on that large Perley farm which has
come down in the family, unalienated, from the first set-
tler of the town. Here, also, he found much to do in the
way of improvement, and his good judgment and good
taste were strikingly shown in the changes and additions
which he made. Besides the care of his farm, on which
he worked a good deal, he undertook the administration
and settlement of several estates — a kind of business
which suited him, and in which his promptness and accu-
racy, and great practical sagacity, were particularly ser-
viceable.

But he had mind and heart for something beyond his
farm and the daily details of business. The affairs and
the welfare of the little parish which he had joined early
enlisted his warm interest and active efforts. At East
Boxford he found himself among a people who knew how
to appreciate such an accession, and who gladly seconded
his movements in every good cause. Their house
of worship had gone to decay, and had long been unfit
for use. All attempts to renovate, or even to repair
it, had been foiled by the selfish obstinacy of two or three
large pew-holders. Mr. Cleaveland took hold of the task,
bringing to it courage, intelligence, and persistent energy,
and the work was soon accomplished.

The neat and well-inclosed burying-ground, in which
his remains now rest, had long been suffering from indif-

60 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM N. CLEVELAND.

ference and neglect. There are many who remember how
skilfully Mr. Cleaveland awakened a new interest among
the proprietors of that graveyard, how he induced them
to open their purses, and did not rest until he had placed
about the ground that handsome and substantial wall,
which is itself a monument to his memory.

When, a few years later, the parish wished to express,
by some special manifestation, their regard for a pastor
whose faithful services they had enjoyed for five and
twenty years, Mr. Cleaveland’s efficient agency was again
sought, and again resulted in a success that exceeded their
highest expectations.

His latest, and probably most important service of this
description, was the part which he took in the erection of
a parsonage house. When he entered on that work,
which he believed to be absolutely essential to the contin-
ued prosperity of the parish, many regarded it as a hope-
less enterprise, even in his hands. But the difficulties
which discouraged others, seemed to stimulate him. It
was only by earnest and persevering effort that the pro-
posed fund was raised. Even then the work could not
have been carried forward without careful planning, the
most frugal management, and constant oversight. All
this and more, for days and months, he willingly gave, not
only directing others, but laboring often with his own
hands. Had he left no other memorial, that neat, pleas-
ant, commodious parsonage would speak his praise. . . .

Always and eminently a lover of home, he was fortu-
nate in his domestic relations. Two daughters died while
the family lived in Topsfield. His other children, four in
number, continued to live with or near him, and the wife
of his youth survives him. . . .

— Salem Gazette, Mar . 19, 1872.

TINTYPE

William Herbert Wildes
Mrs. Rachel Clifford
Samuel Clifford

PORTRAITS TAKEN ABOUT 1868.

Charles H. Leach Sarah S. Edwards

Thomas F. Gould Gilbert B. Balch

Joseph H. Lovett William Henry Wildes

TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE
TA'KEN ABOUT 1868.

William Herbert Wildes, son of Humphrey and
Olive B. (Perkins) Wildes, was born in Topsfield, Oct.
13, 1843 and married, Nov. 5, 1865, Eunice H. Richard-
son of Middleton. Shoemaker by trade and now lives on
Washington street. Enlisted on July 9, 1864, for 100
days, in 8th Mass. Vol. Infy., Company D.

Charles Healy Leach, son of Thomas K. and Louisa
(Morgan) Leach, was born in Topsfield, May 28, 1854
and married, Jan. 15, 1884, Mary A. Wilkins of Wenham.
Butcher by trade and now lives in Wenham to which
town he removed in 1910. Kept a market in Topsfield
for many years and also drove a butcher’s cart. Served
as selectman, road surveyor, and held other minor offices.
Was instrumental in grading the common in front of the
Town Hall. Member of Congregational church choir and
Secretary of Fountain Lodge, I. O. O. F.

Sarah Stickney Edwards, daughter of John and
Mary Ann (Marsh) Edwards, was born in Haverhill, Aug.
25, 1839, and died, unmarried, April, 1907, in Haverhill.
As a young girl she came to Topsfield and lived with her
aunt, Mrs. Royal A. Merriam, returning to Haverhill in
1887 after her aunt’s death. While living in Topsfield
she was much interested in the Town Library and served
as a volunteer worker. The Town Library received a be-
quest of $500, at her death.

Mrs. Rachel Clifford, daughter of Azariah and
Sarah (Towne) Averill, was born in Salem, April 16,
1816, and married, Nov. 28, 1832, Samuel Clifford of
Topsfield, where she lived until her death, Apr. 20, 1900.

(61)

62 TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE.

Thomas Franklin Gould, son of Francis and Almira
(Doe - Dudley) Gould, was born in Boxford, Sept. 7, 1849,
and died, unmarried, May 30, 1909, in Haverhill. Shoe-
maker by trade. Removed to Haverhill, about 1884 where
for several years he served on the police force.

Gilbert Brownell Balch, son of Humphrey and
Hannah P. (Bradstreet) Balch, was born in Topsfield,
Feb. 9, 1856. He fitted at Phillips Academy, Andover,
for Dartmouth College, graduating in the class of 1877.
He studied law for one year at Boston University and
then deciding upon the ministry he entered Andover
Theologieal Seminary and was graduated in 1881, and
became pastor of the Congregational Church at Kingston,
N. H. He resigned this pastorate in 1884 because of ill
health and the following year engaged in the book pub-
lishing business in Toronto, Canada, removing to Boston
in 1887 where he organized the firm of Balch Brothers Co.,
achieving considerable business success in the sale of the
Century Dictionary and in publishing the Stoddard Lec-
tures. He married, July 14, 1881, Sarah Elizabeth Per-
kins of Topsfield, and died there July 24, 1910.

Samuel Clifford, son of Samuel and Lydia Clifford,
was born in Salem, N. H.(?), Feb. 28, 1807, and married
Nov. 28, 1832, Rachel Averill of Topsfield. He was a
shoemaker by trade and died Feb. 17, 1872 in Topsfield.

Joseph Henry Lovett, son of Joseph and Sarah A.
(Morse) Lovett, was born in Topsfield, Aug. 29, 1843,
and married in Lawrence, Jan. 27, 1870. Mary Elizabeth
Nutter. He was a clerk in B. P. Adams’ store when he
enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, for three years, in the 40th Mass.
Vols. Infy., Company F. He was taken prisoner at Drury’s
Bluff, where he lost his leg. He was confined in prison
at Richmond Prison and two months later was exchanged.
Was discharged for disability, with the rank of corporal,
on June 13, 1865. Bookkeeper and also in the insurance
business. Lives in Lawrence.

William Henry Wildes, son of Joseph Benjamin and
Louisa E. (Foster) Wildes, born (baptized June 4, 1843)

TINTYPE PORTRAITS TAKEN ABOUT 1868.

Mrs. Mary Parkinson
Henry H. Potter
Carrie A. Higgins and
Mrs. Susan J. Averil I

Mrs. Huldah L. Sweeney
Benjamin Lane
Edwin S. Clifford

Andrew Gould
Annie Wright
Mrs. Mehitable Lake

TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE. 63

in Andover, married Dec. 20, 1869, in Topsfield, Dora T.
Sweeney and died Feb. 2, 1872, in Topsfield. Shoemaker
by trade.

Mrs. Huldah L. Sweeney, daughter of Enos and
Anna (Gould) Lake, was born in Newburyport, May 2,
1807, and married Miles Sweeney. She died in Topsfield,
April 15, 1888.

Andrew Gould, son of Andrew and Pamelia (Kenney)
Gould, was born in Middleton, Dec. 11, 1805, and died
in Topsfield, Oct. 6, 1896. He married Feb. 24, 1829,
Mary Prudence Lake. Lived in Boxford from 1831
until 1847. A prominent citizen of Topsfield. Farmer,
contractor, and at one time partner of Wm. E. Kimball in
the grocery business. Selectman, assessor, overseer of
the poor, and held other minor offices. For years a jus-
tice of the peace and settled many estates.

Mrs. Mary (“ Polly ”) Parkinson, daughter of Ezra
and Betsy (Redden) Perkins, was born in Topsfield in
1807, and married July 17, 1851, John Parkinson, an
Englishman, who was by trade a tailor. They lived in
what is now the Gould house at the corner of School
avenue, where he plied his trade and also kept a small
tavern or lodging house. “ Aunt Polly,” died Apr. 14,
1897, in the almshouse.

Benjamin Lane, son of David S. and Lydia Ann
Lane, was born in Gloucester, Aug. 6, 1839, and married
Dec. 5, 1862, at Gloucester, Lucy J. Kneeland. Shoe-
maker, keeper of a billiard hall, and afterwards dealer in
leather. Enlisted Aug. 23, 1864, for ten months, in 28th
Unattached Company Heavy Artillery, afterwards the 4th
Mass. Heavy Artillery, Company M. Lives in Topsfield.

Lucy Ann (“Annie”) Wright, daughter of Deacon
John and Lucy Ann (Sanderson) Wright was born in
Topsfield, Aug. 19, 1854, and now lives, unmarried, in
Cambridge, Mass. At one time teacher in the public
schools of Topsfield.

64 TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE.

Henry Harvey Potter, son of John H. and Hannah
W. (Whittaker) Potter, was born in Topsfield, Oct. 27,
1847, and married in Topsfield, Mar. 18, 1872, Mary E.
Andrews of Topsfield. Carpenter. Enlisted July 9,
1864, for 100 days, in 8th Mass. Vol. Infy., Company D.
Re-enlisted, Sept. 17, 1864, at Baltimore, Md., for one year,
in 2d Mass. Heavy Artillery, Company G, serving on the
quota of Springfield. Now lives in Danvers and is an
official in the Boston Custom House.

Edwin Spofford Clifford, son of Samuel and Rachel
(Averill) Clifford, was born in Topsfield, April 20, 1839,
and married, in Topsfield, April 24, 1862, Amanda D.
Pike of Topsfield. Shoemaker by trade but at one time
in the coal business with Isaac M. Woodbury. Elected
deacon of the Congregational Church, March 28, 1884.
Lives in Topsfield. An ardent fisherman.

Mrs. Mehitable Lake, daughter of Enos and Anna
(Gould) Lake, born in Newburyport, Mar. 31, 1805, mar-
ried, in Topsfield, Nov. 30, 1824, Joel Lake, and died in
Topsfield, July 26, 1881.

Carrie A. Htggins, daughter of Major and Caroline
(Stackpole) Higgins, was born in Salem, in 1846, married
in Topsfield, Nov. 30, 1871, Joel L. Sweeney. Now
lives in Lynn.

Mrs. Susan Josephine (Lake) Averill, daughter
of William G. and Mehitable (Balch) Lake, was born in
Topsfield, June 13, 1838, and married, in Topsfield, Dec.
8, 1864, Ephraim Perkins Averill. Now lives in Tops-
field.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

COPIED FROM SALEM NEWSPAPERS
BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW.

(Continued from Vol. XV (1910), page 156.)

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The Summer Terms in this Seminary will commence on
Monday, the first day of June next, to continue twelve weeks.

The school is open for males and females. Instruction will
be given, as may be desired, in the various studies connected
with a common mercantile or classical education, and appropri-
ate instruction to those who wish to become qualified as teachers.

Board in families in the immediate neighbourhood of the
school can be obtained at prices varying from $2.50 to $1.50.

Tuition, $5 and $6 the term.

Alfred W. Pike, Principal.

Salem Gazette , May 29, 1835.

For the Salem Gazette.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. Editor, — I am sincerely rejoiced to see some of the
good people of Salem, after so long a season of lethargic sleep,
awaking to their true interest, and giving their attention to such
public improvements as are intimately associated with the future
prosperity of your beautiful town. I must confess myself in no
slight degree astonished that even a solitary individual should
be found sceptical as to the necessity or expediency of prose-
cuting the projected improvements. I am aware that in times
gone by, diminutive minds have stigmatized and ridiculed some
of the noblest benefactors of their race, as wild and scheming
visionaries, but the fruits of a Fulton’s skill and of a Clinton’s
discernment and perseverance, show with how little foundation.
If there are any now who honestly doubt the utility and advan-
ces)

66

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

tage to Salem of the works to which allusion has been made, I
would respectfully request them to look at New York and other
places which have experienced the renovating power of improve-
ment. Let them compare their present condition with the past.
On the borders of every canal and railroad, the busy hum of
industry is heard, numerous villages have sprung into existence,
as by the magic of enchantment, while those villages and towns
previously in being, by enjoying the good fortune to be imme-
diately on the routes, have doubled and in some instances
trebled their population and business. Cause and effect, all
things equal, must be proportionately the same everywhere. I
cannot, therefore, allow myself to believe that the project of a
railroad from Salem to Boston will be abandoned. I trust that
all interested in this matter, — like the spirited individuals who
have recently purchased the Crowninshield wharf, — will do
something more than talk.

Availing myself of the privilege of your columns, I would
invite public attention to the subject of extending the talked of
improvement. I wish to see Salem and Haverhill connected by a
canal. I presume no individual expects that merely a railroad
from Salem to Boston, however great the advantage resulting
from it, is the only improvement necessary to be made to pre-
serve that town, and with it the old County of Essex — for the
interests of both are blended — from going further in the retro-
trade march. I presume likewise, that it is not generally
known, or even thought of, that a canal might be more easily
and cheaply constructed from Salem to Haverhill than on almost
any other route, of the same distance, in the country. But such
I believe to be the fact. From the head of tide water in Bass
River in Beverly, to Wenham Pond, is but a fraction more than
a mile. From the north end of this pond it is but a few rods to
another smaller pond.

From thence it is about one fourth of a mile to the Great
Swamp in Wenham, through which runs the Ipswich river
from Topsfield. Thus it will be perceived that the excavations
from Salem to Topsfield would be but about three and an half
or four miles in length (one third of which is low land), and not
one deep excavation to be made in the whole distance. From
the pleasant and thrifty village of Topsfield, I would proceed
thro’ a part of Boxford to that interesting and business-like
place, New-Rowley, and from thence to the nearest and most
practicable place on the Merrimack, in Bradford. I believe that
the whole route from Topsfield to the Merrimack is perfectly
feasible, and may be accomplished without any deep excava-

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 67

tions. Thus by a railroad and canal from Boston to Haverhill,
the distance would not be more than four or five miles further,
through Salem, then by the stage route from Boston to Haverhill
direct.

But here a question of benefit arises. Who will be benefitted
by the accomplishment of this project? I answer : The city

of Boston, the towns of Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Wenham, Tops-
field, Boxford, New Bowl ey, Bradford, and Haverhill, together
with every town in the immediate vicinity of those througq
which it passes. In fact, the whole county of Essex will be
highly benefitted, for the suggested route passes through its
very centre. Make this improvement, and I will venture to
predict that in a few years this medium of intercommunication
will be extended to the Winnepisseogee Lake, in New Hamp-
shire, thus concentrating' the trade from New Hampshire and
the north part of Vermont, and securing a sure, convenient, and
ready conveyance for all the productions of the earth from this
large tract of farming country, as well as for an abundance of
ship and other timber, which is at this time worth but a mere
trifle. It would likewise prevent many of our most enterprising
young men from emigrating to the far west to find a better field
for their enterprise.

Once more, and I have done for the present. If the citizens
of Salem and Beverly would unite to make the Beverly Bridge a
free thoroughfare, it would greatly tend to build up the two
places. This, with the improvements that are now making on
the road from Beverly to Topsfield, which, by the by, will be
the nearest route, by about a mile, from Salem to Haverhill, and
something more than a mile from Salem to Newburyport, will in
a great measure secure to Salem the travel, and consequently a
good share of the business, from Maine, New Hampshire, and
Vermont.

An Essex County Farmer.

Salem Gazette , June 19, 1835.

Hon. N. Cleaveland of Topsfield was elected President of the
Essex County Temperance Society at a meeting held in South
Danvers.

Salem Gazette , July 28, 1835.

Topsfield, July 28, 1835.

Public Notice is hereby given, that I have this day impounded
in the Town Pound of Topsfield whereof Joseph Wildes is
Pound keeper, one Horse, red or bay color, dark mane and tail

68 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

— not any shoes on his feet, supposed to be about seven years
old, which horse I found going at large in the public highway in
said town, and for that cause impounded the same. The owner
to me is unknown.

Cyrus Kneeland, Field driver.

Salem Gazette , August 18, 1835.

SALTJTABIUM.

Dr. Merriam will open his house in Topsfield for the reception
of Invalids and those affected with chronic complaints in Medi-
cine or Surgery. Various kinds of baths will be provided and
carriages for short excursions in the surrounding country.

Disorders of the chest, bowels and skin, and particularly of
children, will probably be more benefitted by a few weeks resi-
dence in the country than in any other situation.

Kind attentions may be relied on for moderate compensations.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 15, 1835.

To the Honorable Court of County Commissioners for the
County of Essex :

The subscribers respectfully represent that the road leading from
the meeting-house in Topsfield in said County to the Court House
in Ipswich, is narrow, circuitous, so much incumbered with snow
in winter as to be kept open with extreme difficulty, and that
public convenience and necessity requires that the same should
be widened and straightened.

They therefore request your honors to widen, straighten, and
in several places to new locate ; or make such alterations in the
same highway as your honors may deem expedient.

K. A. Merriam and 41 others.

Topsfield, Oct. 12th, 1835.

The County Commissioners advertised a hearing on this peti-
tion at the Topsfield Hotel on Dec. 12th.

Salem Gazette , November 6, 1835.

Supreme Court. We have copied in another column a brief
report of a trial, which attracted some attention in this town,
last week, viz, the cause of a libel, brought by Mr. Alfred W.
Pike, of Topsfield, against Messrs. Beals and Greene, publish-
ers of the Boston Morning Post. Headers will please to bear
in mind, that this report is the statement of the defendants in
the case, and will of course make just as large deductions from
its impartiality as they may think this circumstance requires.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 1, 1835.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 69

CASE OF ALFRED W. PIKE,

against Charles Gordon Greene and William Beals, for al-
leged Libels on said Pike, published in the “ Boston Morning
Post,” on the 2d and 14th of May last. — Damages laid at ten
thousand dollars. The trial came on before the Supreme Judicial
Court, holden at Salem, (His Honor Judge Putman on the
Bench,) on Monday the 23d inst., and lasted til Saturday the
28th. Counsel foi* the Plaintiff, Rufus Choate and Asahel
Huntington, Esqrs., for the Defendants, Leverett Saltonstall and
George Wheatland, Esqrs.

It was stated in the Post on Monday last, in an editorial par-
agraph, announcing the commencement of this trial, that the
Reporter would be present, for the purpose of reporting it for
the Post. Facts, however, were developed in the progress of the
trial, and incontrovertibly proved, and not even contested, of so
extraordinary a character — unparalleled in the history of judic-
ial proceedings — and so utterly improper to be published in a
newspaper, that the original intention of giving in the columns
of the Post a detailed report has been abandoned, but as con-
siderable curiosity has been expressed by those who have become
partially acquainted with the facts referred to, to learn the full
particulars, a report in pamphlet form will be prepared and pub-
lished with all possible expedition, but notwithstanding the ex-
clusion of those facts which had a controlling weight with the
jury, still there are others in the case sufficient to indicate the
nature of the Libel, and the justification relied on by the De-
fendants.

Pike, the plaintiff, has been a teacher in classical schools, in
Boston and various other places, for the past twenty years, and
now is, and has been for the last year, the preceptor of the
Topsfield Academy in this state. The Defendants are the pub-
lishers of the Boston Morning Post, in which appeared on the
2d of May last, a communication charging Mr. Pike with “ bru-
tal cruelty ” towards Sarah B. Jay, a little girl whom he took
to bring up, as one of his own children. The communication
stated that Mr. Pike took her to Topsfield, where the child suf
fered the utmost cruelty, that “ her food had been chiefly Indian
meal and water, that she had been compelled to sleep on straw
in an upper room, with scarcely covering enough to keep life in
her, and during the last rigorous winter exposed so as to freeze
her feet and hands badly, that he sent her to the Alms-House,
from which, at her mother’s request, he sent her back to Boston
half naked and reduced to the lowest state of wretchedness.”

70 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

In reply to this communication, a certificate dated “ Topsfield
May 6,” and signed by seven highly respectable gentlemen of
that town, was published in the Essex Register. This certificate
stated that the signers had investigated the subject, and were
satisfied that there was no just cause of complaint against Mr.
and Mrs. Pike in respect to the girl. Her sickly appearance and
diseased feet were declared “ to be the consequence of her own
personal conduct,” etc. Mr. Greene copied this certificate into
the Post on the 14th of May, and appended to it some severe
and argumentative comments, which were alleged by the plain-
tiff to be more libellous than the original communication.

Among a countless host of other facts, it was proved by un-
impeached and unimpeachable testimony, that in September,
1834, Mrs. Pike applied to Mrs. Howard, the child’s mother, for
her, she being then seven years old, that Mrs. Pike engaged to
treat her as her own child, and educate her so as to qualify her
to keep at school, etc., that, if the child became sick, or either
party became dissatisfied, she was to be sent home, that she was
of an amiable disposition, of considerable aptitude, and cleanly
in her habits and about her work, that she required firm, but
gentle treatment, and that it would not answer for more than one
person to undertake to control her, and it was expressly stipula-
ted “ that Mrs. Pike would not allow any one but herself to
govern her.”

In November, Mr. Pike removed with his family to Topsfield.,
in December, while there was snow on the ground, the girl was
seen, as often as six times a day, fetching water from the pump,
without any bonnet, in a short-sleeved gown, and with her toes
protruding through her shoes. Sometime in the course of the
winter, the date not being fixed by any witness, numerous sores
broke out in various parts of the child’s body, and Mrs. Pike
at different times, administered salts to her, and afterwards, and
very properly gave her gruel.

Early in February, through disease, or some otherwise inex-
plicable cause, she fell into habits of extreme personal unclean-
liness, her feet being at the same time afficted with chilblains.
She was then put to sleep on a straw bed on the floor, as stated,
for the remainder of the time she lived with Mr. Pike. After a
short period her bed was never moved, nor was there ever any fire
in the room. The witnesses for the plaintiff testified that, on
account of her offensive appearance, she was kept in this cham-
ber all the time, excepting school hours, when she was allowed to
come down into the kitchen or run in the cellar for exercise. It
was also testified by them, that after the child’s feet became

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 71

sore it was the standing rule of the family, that she was not to
fetch water. No physician was ever called to her, as she was
not regarded as a sick child, because she had a great appetite.
She was therefore treated as obstinate and sullen, and besides
the rod, singular and unheard of methods were resorted to, to
subdue her supposed disposition, and insupportable habits. She
was compelled to take nauseaus and unnatural substances, one of
which, and infinitely the least revolting , was ASSAFOETIDA.
During this time, she became very thin and pale, and, in the
language of the plaintiffs’ witness, “ looked as sick as little Jo-
seph when they had the doctor to him.” Finally, in April, Mr.
Pike took the girl to the Topsfield almshouse, stating what her
habits were, and that his wife could not live in the house with
her, and adding that the child must be taken into the almshouse,
for he “ was afraid she would die on his hands.” The overseers
of the poor at Topsfield objected to keeping the child in the
almshouse, because she did not belong there, and after a contro-
versy with Mr. Pike on the subject, he sent a letter by one of
them to the child’s mother, informing her where her daughter
was and she at once insisted upon having her brought home.

On the Monday following she was brought home, in such a
diseased and helpless state as to create a great excitement in
and about Myrtle Street, where Mrs. Howard, the mother, re-
sided. Physicians were called in, and neighbors thronged the
premises. The child’s feet were gashed and ulcerated, and part
of a little toe lost, from the effects of frost or chilblains, or both.
She was described by the witnesses to be “destitute of flesh,”
and the hip to have cut through the skin. The testimony of
the physicians — Flint, Jackson, Strong and Shattuck — was full
and clear that she was very much diseased internally. Dr. Shat-
tuck was summoned on the part of Mr. Pike, but was more de-
cisive in his testimony then his medical brethren, as to the
state of the little girl’s health. He considered the external sores
or wounds, and the toe, “ as but a drop in the bucket, compared
with the deep toned disease of her abdominal viscera,” etc. Her
complaint was of a chronic character, deeply seated — in other
words, of long standing. Upon coming to the knowledge of
these facts, a benevolent gentleman wrote the original commu-
nication which appeared in the Post, having first satisfied Mr.
Greene of its truth.

About 10 witnesses were summoned, and the trial was con-
ducted with as much skill and professional pertinacity as if it
had been for the life or death of the plaintiff. The efforts of
the respective counsel were arduous in the extreme, and indefa-

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

tigable — the cross-examination being conducted with great
severity, and almost interminable minuteness. The closing
arguments were upon the facts mainly, and avoided personality
on both sides. The charge by Judge Putman, on Saturday,
was liberal towards the press, and the defendants, vindicating
them from all express malice, but near the conclusion suggested
that they had failed to prove that the child had been fed chiefly
on Indian meal, but on the contrary had had the same food gen-
erally as the rest of the family. He asked the jury to look at the
condition of the child when Mr. Pike took her from, and what
it was when he sent her home to, her mother. He hoped the
jury would, in considering the case, allow their minds to sink
down to the naked facts, and not look at them in the aspect
they assumed when mixed up with the eloquence or ingenuity
of the counsel on either side. Thus instructed, the jury retired,
and in an hour sent word to the Judge that they had agreed
upon a verdict. At half past two they came into court, with a
verdict for the plaintiff, giving him ONE DOLLAR damages.

This verdict throws the costs of the court upon the plaintiff,
with the exceptions of twenty five cents .

N. B. The little girl was not examined as a witness by either
party, and all the substantial matters of the defence were proved
by witnesses not related to her. On the other hand, it was
testified to by three members of Mr. Pike’s family — his daugh-
ter, wife’s mother and a young domestic — that she was well fed
comfortably clad, and had a good supply of bed clothes.

Salem Gazette, December 1, 1835.

Essex County Teacher’s Association.

The Sixth Annual Meeting of this Association will be held at
Topsfield on Friday and Saturday the 4th and 5th of December
inst. Lectures will be delivered by Roger S. Howard of New-
bury port., Rev. Dr. Emerson, and Rev. Mr. John Way land of
Salem., Mr. Samuel R. Hall of Andover., Rev. Leonard With-
ington of Newbury., and Mr. Christopher Dunken of Cambridge.
All the Lectures, by a vote of the Association, are to be fol-
lowed by discussions.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 3, 1835.

To the Honorable Court of County Commissioners, for
the County of Essex.

The Subscribers respectfully represent, that the road leading
from the Meeting house in Topsfield, in said County, to the

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 73

Court House in Ipswich, is narrow, circuitous, so much incum-
bered with snow in the winter, as to be kept open with extreme
difficulty, and that public convenience and necessity require
that the same should be widened and straightened, and in sever-
al places to new locate, or make such alterations in the same
Highway, as your Honors may deem expedient.

R. A. Merriam, and 39 others.

The County Commissioners advertised a hearing on the peti-
tion at the Topsfield Hotel on March 8th.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 29, 1836.

Died, in Topsfield, Jacob Towne, Esq. aged 67 years, and 8
months. The family of the deceased not called upon alone to
part with one whose loss is unspeakably great — and when we
say that the town in which he lived has lost one of its most use-
ful citizens, in the death of Mr. Towne, we speak the feelings of
all who knew him. In early life he received a common educa-
tion, such as was afforded the youth 60 years ago, but having a
mind fraught with ambition for intellectual improvement, he
has ever applied himself with that assiduity and success which
characterises a scholar, and prepared himself for usefulness.
His counsel has ever been sought in all most important town
affairs, and obtained with decision and accuracy. Many im-
portant town offices were invested in him, the various duties of
which he performed with correctness and fidelity. A seat in
our present legislature has become vacated by his death — and
when we say that no man has been more untiring during 50
years for the promotion and happiness for people among whom
he lived, we delineate the character of Jacob Towne, Esq.

Comm.

Salem Gazette , April 7, 1836.

A man was examined, in Topsfield, on Saturday, for an al-
ledged attempt to commit an aggravated offence. The examina-
tion was postponed, to await further evidence.

Salem Gazette , May 3, 1836.

Essex County Teacher’s Association.

The semi-annual meeting of the Essex County Teacher’s
Association will be held at Topsfield, on Friday and Saturday,
the 20th and 21st May inst. Lectures, to be followed by Dis-
cussions will be delivered as follows : viz :

74

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

On Friday at 10 o’clock, a lecture by Hey. Samuel Nott, Jr.
of Wareham. Subject — “ What is a good school?”

At half past 11 o’clock, a Lecture by Alfred Greenleaf, of
Salem, on “ Discipline.”

At 2 o’clock, P. M. a Lecture by Frederic A. Barton, of An-
dover, on “ Co-operation between Parents and Teachers.”

At half past 3 o’clock, a Lecture by Rev. Mr. Durant of
Newbury, on “ The importance and best method of communica-
ting Moral Instruction.”

On Saturday, at half-past'nine o’clock A. M. a Lecture by Rob-
ert Rantoul, Esq. of Gloucester, on “ Political Science as a
branch of Popular Education.”

At 11 o’clock, a Lecture by Rev. Dr. Emerson, of Salem, on
“ The use of the Bible in Schools.”

School Committees and friends of education are invited to
attend.

DAVID CHOATE, Cor. Sec.

Salem Gazette , May 13, 1836.

The County Commissioners have granted innholder’s licenses
to John Rea and Susannah Cummings of Topsfield, the latter
being authorized to sell fermented liquors only.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 2, 1836.

Dr. Jeremiah Stone, of Topsfield, has been appointed, by Brig.
Gen. Low, Brigade Major and Inspector of the 2d Brigade, 2d
Division, in place of Samuel W. Stickney , Esq. promoted.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 2, 1836.

NOTICE. A meeting of the Board of managers of the Essex
County Anti-Slavery Society will be held at the Hotel in Tops-
field on the second Wednesday of August, at 2 o’clock P. M. for
special business. Per order of the Board.

J. G. Whittier, Sec’ty.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 9, 1836.

A new Light Infantry Company has been formed in Topsfield,
and will make its appearance this fall with full ranks, and in an
elegant uniform which they are having made in this city. The
company is commanded by Capt. Con ant.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 16, 1836.

The troops of the 2d Brigade 2d Division, will parade for in-
spection and review, at Topsfield , on Tuesday, the fourth of

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 75

October. They consist of a Eegiment of Light Infantry, under
Colonel Chauncey Hastings, a Battalion of Cavalry under Major
Dodge, and a Battalion of Artillery under Major Bradbury.
They will be inspected by Major Jere’h Stone of Topsfield, and
reviewed by Brigadier General Low. The whole number of
companies included in this parade will be thirteen, — two of Cav-
alry, two of Artillery, and nine of Light Infantry. An uncom-
monly fine military display may be expected from so large an
assemblage of the elite troops of the northern section of this
country.

Salem Gazette , Sept . 24, 1836.

FIRE IN TOPSFIELD.

On Monday morning a fire broke out in the premises of Mr.
John Rea Jr. in Topsfield, by which the Tavern House, together
with a large barn, and a store belonging to that gentleman, were
destroyed.

We are informed by persons who were at the spot, that the
fire originated in the barn, the contents of which — a large
quantity of hay, grain, etc., two horses, several hogs, two chaises
and two or three wagons, were destroyed.

Considerable of the house furniture was consumed, and also
many other articles in the house, including a gold watch. Mr.
Perley’s store on the opposite side of the street, was preserved
with great difficulty. It is supposed that the fire was the work
of an incendiary as it was first discovered in a part of the bam
not occupied as a tavern stable, and into which no one had been
known to carry a light.

Mr. Rea was aroused at about one o’clock and the alarm
reached Salem a little before two. Two engines from Danvers
and one from New Rowley were present.

Engines also started from Salem — that from Boston Street
had made considerable progress on the road when it was stopped
by a message from the Chief Engineer of our Fire Department,
who was at the fire.

I3P After the fire was in type, we received from a correspon-
dent an account of the fire, in which he says — “ Mr. Rea saved
literally nothing from the devouring element. He had barely
time to save the lives of himself and family. The whole loss is
estimated at five thousand dollars. There was an insurance by
the Merrimack Mutual Fire Ins. Co. (Andoveiq of two thousand
dollars on the buildings which however was held for the benefit
of an individual having a mortgage of the premises.

76 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

The Loss to Mr. Eea is total, and we hope a liberal public will
remember him in this hour of calamity and need.

His whole substance is consumed in a night, and all his pros-
pects for the support of himself and his family blasted, as it
were, in an instant.

He has the sympathies of his townsmen, and we hope they,
and others, of their abundance will give him substantial proofs
by their deeds, as well as by their words.

This is the first considerable fire which has ever taken place
in the town, from its settlement, and we regret to add, that it
was , beyond question, the work of an incendiary.

Topsfield, Oct. 17, 1836.

Salem Gazettey Oct. 18, 1836.

No doubt is entertained in Topsfield, that the late fire in that
town was caused by an incendiary, It will be seen that the
Selectman have offered a reward for the detention of the villain
who could commit so great a crime.

Salem Gazette , Oct . 21, 1836.

ISp^The subscriber presents his thanks to his townsmen for
their prompt, though unsuccessful attempts to save his property
from distraction by fire, on the morning of the 17th inst.
Topsfield, Oct. 19, 1836.

John Eea.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 21, 1836.

53^“The subscribers tender their thanks to their fellow towns-
men for their unwearied efforts in saving their property, when
in the most eminent danger of being destroyed by the burning
of Capt. John Eea’s establishment.

They also tender their thanks to the Firemen of Danvers and
Eowley, for their prompt attendance when notified of the
danger of our village, and the good feeling manifested on the
occasion.

Frederick Perley
Samuel Gould
John Wright
Benj. Kimball.

Topsfield, Oct. 19, 1836.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 21, 1836.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 77

CARD. The Selectman of Topsfield, tender their thanks to
the several Engine Companies, and other citizens, for their
prompt and ready assistance at the Fire at Topfield Village on
the 17th instant.

Willliam Hubbard, 1 Selectmen
Samuel Bradstreet, > of
David Towne. ) Topsfield.

Oct. 20, 1836.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 21, 1836.

|3P The members of the Danvers Engine Company No.3 re-
turn their strong gratitude to Frederick Perley and those citizens
of Topsfield who so liberally provided them with refreshments
whilst there, and conveyance home from the late fire in that
town.

Ezekiel Osborn, Clerk.

Danvers, Oct. 21, 1836.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 21, 1836.

Two Hundred Dollars Reward. WHEREAS, there is reason
to believe that the Fire in Topsfield Village on Monday morn-
ing, 16th inst. which consumed the Dwelling House and other
buildings of Capt. John Rea, was the work of an incendiary, the
above reward will be paid to any person who shall furnish in-
formation which will lead to the detection and conviction of the
perpetrator.

WILLIAM HUBBARD, )

SAM’L BRADSTREET, V Selectman.

DAVID TOWNE. j

Topsfield, Oct. 20, 1836.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 21, 1836.

We learn that the Light Infantry Company, lately formed in
Topsfield, called the Topsfield Warren Blues, will celebrate
their first Anniversary by a public parade on Thursday next,
accompanied by the Boston Brass Band, when anew and elegant
standard (painted by Mr. Luke R. Prince, jr. of Beverly), will
be presented to the Company by the Ladies of Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 25, 1836.

CARD. The Boxford Washington Guards, tender their
grateful acknowledgements to the Topsfield Warren Blues, for
the kindness, hospitality, and good feelings toward them on the
27th inst.

A. W. Perley , Clerk.

Boxford, Oct. 31

78 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

CARD. The Boxford Washington Guards, tender their sin-
cere thanks to Asa Pingree, and Wm. Munday, Esq’s, for the
politeness and liberality towards the corps on the 27th inst.

A. W. Perley , Clerk.

Boxford, Oct. 31.

Salem Gazette , Nov . 8, 1836.

ESSEX CO. TEACHER’S ASSOCIATION. The 7th Annual
Meeting of the Esssx County Teacher’s Association will be held
at Tops field, on Friday and Saturday , the 2d and 3d December
next.

The following Lectures may be expected viz. —

ON FRIDAY,

At 10 o’clock, A. M., a Lecture on Originalty in the Teacher,
by Mr. David Choate, of Essex.

At 11 o’clock, a Lecture on the comparative merits of Private
and Common Schools, by Rev. Theodore Edson, of Lowell. At
2 o’clock, P. M., a Lecture on the subject of Grammer, by Dr.
Daniel Perley, of Lynn. At 3 o’clock, a Lecture on the same
subject, by Mr. Samuel R. Hall of Andover.

ON SATURDAY.

At half past 9, A. M. a Lecture on Teaching Orthography, by
Mr. Frederick A. Adams, of Andover. At half past 11, a Lec-
ture by Rev. G. B. Perry, of Bradfrod, subject, What favorable
influence can the Christian Ministry exert upon Common
Schools.”

By a vote of the Association all Lectures will be followed by
discussions.

The session will commence at 9 o’clock, A. M. on Friday, and
close at noon on Saturday.

Teachers of both sexes, members of school committees, and
friends of education generally, are respectfully invited to be
present, and contribute to the interest of the occasion.

Per order,

JOHN BATCHELDER,

Rec. Sec’y.

Lynn, Nov. 14, 1836.

Salem Gazette , Nov. 25, 1836.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

79

CAPITAL CASE.

A Magistrates’ Court was held last week at Topsfield before
John W. Proctor, Esq., for the examination of Miss Eliza Por-
ter Bradstreet, a maiden lady of a respectable family, on a
complaint made against her, charging her with the crime of
Arson, in setting fire to the dwelling house and buildings of
Capt. John Bea, in Topsfield, a few weeks since.

The examination is not finished.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 13, 1836.

By consent of parties and for reasons that were thought suffi-
cient, the time for the hearing in relation to the charge of setting
fire to the buildings of Capt. Bea in Topsfield on the 17th of
Oct. last (mentioned in Tuesday Gazette) is postponed to Mon-
day, Eeby 20.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 16, 1836.

ANOTHEB FIBE IN TOPSFIELD.

Last Monday at 3 P. M. a fire broke out in the barn of Mr.
Josiah Gould of Topsfield, which was consumed with all his
winter stock of hay and grain, together with a wood shed, etc.
etc.

Loss estimated at about $1000.

By great exertions the adjoining dwelling house owned by
Capt Kilham was saved.

There is we learn no way of accounting for this fire. Mr.
Gould is a worthy, hard laboring man, and his loss is very
severe.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 16, 1836.

CABDS. The subscriber tenders his thanks to his fellow
townsmen and others, for their unwearied exertions at the fire
on the 12th inst. by which his dwelling house was saved when
in imminent danger.

JOSIAH GOULD.

Topsfield, Dec. 15.

The subscriber tenders his thanks to his fellow townsmen and
others, for their unwearied exertions in saving his property,
when in imminent danger of being destroyed, by the burning of
Mr. Josiah Gould’s barn on the 12th inst.

ISAAC KILHAM.

Topsfield, Dec. 15.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 23, 1836.

80 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Notice. The Association of Salem and Vicinity will meet
at the house of Rev. Mr. McEwen in Topsfield, on Tuesday, Jan.
3, 1837, at 9 o’clock, A. M.

S. M. Worcester, Scribe.
Salem Gazette , Jan. 3, 1837.

FOR THE SALEM GAZETTE.

$ 90 00

1474 20

25 00

$1589 20

Then he sets to “ Old Star’s ” Dr. as follows :

Had I killed her when a calf she would
have been worth $ 5 00

Cost for keeping till she was 3 years old, 15 00
Cost for keeping the last 18 years at
$20 per year. 360 00

380 00

Balance in favor of “ Old Star,” $1209 20

Now, Mr. Editor, perhaps some may doubt the credibility of
the above statement, but I have not the least doubt but that
Mr. Bradstreet has been perfectly honest in the account which
he has kept between himself and “ Old Star.” If he has devi-
ated in any particular, it is in the charges he has made for her
keeping, as all who know the worth of keeping a cow will agree
with me in saying that $20 is more than an average worth the
last eighteen years. I am fully persuaded that in this county
not an equal is to be found for Mr. Bradstreet’s “ Old Star.”
Topsfield, Jan. 28, 1837.

Mr. Editor — Will you please to insert in your
paper the following interesting facts of a cow raised
and owned by Mr. Samuel Bradstreet of this town,
which he killed this winter at the age of 21 years.
This cow has brought him 18 calves, which have been
worth when five weeks old $5 each,

She has furnished him at a moderate calculation
6 quarts of milk per day for 9 months in each of the
last 18 years, which has been worth 5 cents per
quart, making the sum of

Now Mr. Bradstreet goes into this nice calculation,
and says, when I killed “ Old Star,” this winter, she
was worth at least, for she was very fat, $25.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 31, 1837.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 81

Topsjield , Jan. 30, 1837.

Mr. Editor — On the 24th inst. there was killed in Boxford,
by Mr. Spofford, a large Wildcat, which had taken possession of
the barn, and was indulging in the pleasures of life by feasting
on two fat hens. He weighed 75 pounds, and measured from
the tip of his nose to the end of his tail 4 and a half feet.

Communicated.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 3, 1837.

In the House [of Representatives] Mr. Andrew of Salem,
presented a petition of Nathaniel Conant and others, praying
payment of compensation for military services to the members
of a Light Infantry Company in Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 7, 1837.

Hon. Nehemiah Cleaveland, whose death is announced in
our obituary column, was one of the most respected and distin-
guished citizens of Essex County. He was the son of the emi-
nent divine, Rev. John Cleaveland, of Essex, and under the
charge of his pious and learned father received a good education
in literature and virtuous principles. Dr. Cleaveland possessed
a vigorous mind, a sound judgment, and extensive knowledge.
His long life has been spent in acts of usefulness, and a con-
scientious discharge of all the duties of life. Integrity, justice,
benevolence, and piety controlled his thoughts and actions. He
was zealously devoted, through life, to the promotion of the in-
terests of the best institutions, of the church, and of his coun-
try. In early life, his ardent patriotism compelled him to take
arms and serve several years in the revolutionary army. The
suffrages of his fellow citizens, for a series of years placed him
in the Senate of our State. His good sense, vivacity, and
familiar acquaintance with the interesting scenes of our history,
and his social intercourse with the eminent citizens of our State
in past times, rendered his conversation attractive and instruc-
tive. In all the relations of life he fulfilled his duty, and his
family, his friends, and the whole community will cherish his
memory with reverence and respect.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 28, 1837.

The examination of Elizabeth P. Brad street on a charge of
arson, was resumed on Tuesday last at Topsfield, before Justices
Mack and Proctor, and continued till Friday evening, and was
then adjourned to tomorrow.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 28, 1837.

82 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

The examination of Miss Bradstreet at Topsfield, before Jus-
tices, Mack and Proctor, was completed on Friday last, and after
able and eloquent arguments by Mr. Huntington, District Attor-
ney for the government, and Mr. Saltonstall, counsel for the
accused, the decision was that there were no sufficient grounds
for her commitment and she was discharged.

So strong was the feeling in Topsfield, in her favor, that her
acquittal was hailed with various demonstrations of joy.

[Register.]

Salem Gazette , Mar. 7, 1837.

GENERAL COURT.

The Resolve on the petition of Nath’l Conant and others, was
taken up in the orders of the day. This resolve provides for
paying the members of the “ Warren Blues,” a Light Infantry
Company in Topsfield, the sum of five dollars each for their
military services for 1836, being the sum allowed by law to vol-
unteer companies, although this corps was not fully organized at
the last May inspection. Mr. Billings of Conway, called for the
facts in relation to this case. Mr. Andrew, of Salem, chairman
of the Military committee on the part of the House, answered
the call. A motion for indefinite postponement was made, and
supported by several gentlemen. Messrs. Kinsman and Blake of
Boston, and Andrew of Salem, opposed the motion ; and the
latter gentleman gave an account of the formation, the necessity
for, and the popularity of this company, in the town of Tops-
field— and stated, that upon the decision of this question de-
pended in a great degree the fate of the Volunteer companies ;
for unless this was received with favor by the House, much of
that zeal now enlisted in the cause, would be dampened, &c.
The motion to postpone was lost, and the Resolve passed, by a
majority of about fifty.

Salem Gazette , Mar. 14, 1837.

NOTICE.

FREDERICK J. MERRIAM, of Topsfield, Drover, has as-
signed, for the benefit of all his creditors, all his property, real
and personal, not exempted by law from attachment.

Creditors may become parties to the assignment by calling on

R. A. MERRIAM,
NATH’L PERLEY.

Topsfield, April 14, 1837. Assignees.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 25, 1837.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 83

BY ORDER OF COURT.

On the 11th of May next, at 2 o’clock, P. M. will be sold by
Auction,

Part of the Farm now occupied by JOSHUA TOWNE, of
Topsfield, yeoman, for the payment of his debts. Terms made
known at the sale.

Samuel Bradstreet,

Topsfield, April 25, 1837. Guard ad.

Salem Gazette , May 5, 1837.

Boarding and Tuition.

SIX small Boys and Girls may receive Board, Tuition, and
parental care in the family of the subscriber.

JAMES F. McEWEN.

Topsfield, May 5, 1837.

Salem Gazette , May 9, 1837.

ESSEX COUNTY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The semi-annual meeting of the Essex County Teachers ’ Asso-
ciation will be held at Topsfield on FRIDAY and SATUR-
DAY, the 26th and 27th of the present month, May : — The fol-
lowing Lectures may be expected : —

ON FRIDAY,

At 10 o’clock A. M. a lecture on Grammar by Mr. Samuel R.
Hall of Andover.

At 2 P. M. a lecture on “ Defects of Common Schools,” by
Rev. Milton P. Braman of Danvers.

ON SATURDAY,

At half past nine A. M. a lecture on Discipline, by Mr. Moses
Burbank of Hampton Falls.

At half past ten o’clock, a lecture on English Composition, by
Newton E. Marble of Dover.

By a vote of the Association all lectures are followed by dis-
cussions.

The session will commence at 9 o’clock A. M. on Friday, and
close at noon on Saturday.

Teachers of both sexes, members of school Committees, and

84 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

the friends of education generally are respectfully invited to
be present and contribute to the interest of the occasion,

Per order,

J. BATCHELDER, Bee. Sec.

Lynn, May 22, 1837.

Salem Gazette, May 23, 1837.

HAVERHILL AND CONCORD STAGE.

[Wood cut of a stagecoach]

The Stage for Haverhill and Concord, starts from Salem, at
7 o’clock in the morning, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Stage Office, Lafayette Coffee House.

Salem, July 4, 1837.

Salem Gazette , July 4, 1837.

Essex Court of County Commissioners , July Term , 1837.

The proposed new road in Topsfield and Hamilton, prayed
for by S. Bradstreet and others, is not granted.

A license was granted at the Topsfield Hotel, to a new occu-
pant, since the last term — and this is the only license granted.

On examining the votes for County Treasurer, it was found
that there were no returns from Amesbury, Marblehead aud
Middleton, and that the votes from Andover, Bradford, Haver-
hill, Essex and Topsfield, were not certified in the form required
by law. Officers of towns should be careful to know their duty,
and to do it correctly.

Salem Gazette, July 18, 1837.

The Salem Mechanic Light Infantry carried off ninety men in
uniform, early on Wednesday morning. They were hospitably
entertained with a collation, in front of the Village Bank, by
citizens of North Danvers. At the Topsfield line, they were met
by the Topsfield Warren Blues, who escorted the Mechanics to the
Hotel, where both companies partook of a sumptuous breakfast.

Salem Gazette, July 28, 1837.

CAMPAIGN

OF THE

SALEM MECHANIC LIGHT INFANTRY.

In Camp — New Rowley )
Wednesday Evening , July 26, 1837. J

Took up our line of march from Salem to Newburyport, 15
minutes past 5, A. M., by Buffum’s Corner to North Danvers,

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 85

to the Village Bank, favored with one of the most delightful
summer mornings, and there entertained with a hot breakfast,
which was very acceptable, provided by the citizens of North
Danvers. Again took up our march to Topsfield — were met on
the dividing line by the Topsfield Light Infantry, under the
command of Capt. Conant, and escorted to Topsfield, and again
entertained at the house of Capt. Munday, with a bounteous
collation, provided by the Topsfield Warren Blues. After partak-
ing, formed Morning Parade — Company Orders for the day were
read by the Adjutant. Lt. Kimball Officer of the day — Serg’t
Stedman Officer of the Police. Again took up our march to
New Rowley, accompanied by Capt. Conant’s Company. After
a short march, partook of the refreshments by the politeness of
Mr. John Peabody, of Boxford. Parted with our Topsfield
friends, and after marching a short distance were met by the
New Rowley Lafayette Guards, under the command of Capt.
Howe — escorted by the same into New Rowley, to our place of
encampment. [The remainder of the account relates to New-
buryport, Ipswich, etc.]

Salem Gazette} Aug . 1, 1837.

Great Turnip. We were shown yesterday an enormous
Turnip, of the common round sort, raised in Topsfield. It was
26 inches in diameter, and nearly 4, in thickness.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 25, 1837.

ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Annual Exhibition by the Society will be at Topsfield,
on Wednesday, September 27th.

All claims for premiums to be awarded on the day of exhibi-
tion, must be entered with the Secretary of the Society, or his
agent, on or before 9 o’clock, A. M., of that day.

All other claims for premiums must be handed or forwarded
to the Secretary in writing.

All articles of domestic manufacture must be entered and
deposited at the Hall, to be provided for this purpose, by 9
o’clock, A. M.

These articles will be examined and arranged by the Commit-
tee,— and at 12 o’clock, will be opened for public examination.

All animals or articles exhibited must remain for public
inspection until 3 o’clock, P. M.

The Ploughing Match will take place at 10 o’clook, A. M.

Butter, Cheese, Fruits and Flowers, will be deposited in the
Hall to be provided for this purpose.

86 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Agricultural Implements will be deposited in the same room.

Gentlemen, who have articles or fruit that will iucrease the
interest of the show, are respectfully requested to bring them
forward.

The Members of the Society and invisted guests, will dine
together at the Village Hotel, at 1 o’clock, P. M. Tickets
for the dinner can be obtained of Mr. Wm. Munday.

At 3 o’clock, P. M., there will be a meeting of the Society at
the Meeting House, where an Address will be delivered by the
Rev. N. Gage of Haverhill, — and the Reports of Committees
read, and premiums awarded, &c. The Annual Meeting for the
choice of Officers, and transaction of the business of the Society
will then follow.

In the morning the Trustees will meet at Mr. Munday ’s Hotel,
where the Secretary will be ready to receive entries, &c. &c.

By order of the Committee of Arrangements .

R. A. MERRIAM, Chairman.

J. W. Proctor, Sec’ry.

Topsfield, Sept. 14, 1837.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 15, 1837.

Among the military companies present at the annual inspec-
tion and review at West Bradford was one from Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 15, 1837.

A short time since, some rogue entered the Methodist Meet-
ing House in Topsfield, and stole quite a number of Bibles,
Hymn Books, &c.

The Dwelling House of Dr. Merriam, in Topsfield, was entered
about the same time, in the middle of the day, while the family
was absent, and some change which was in a box was taken, but
of a small amount. The robber took several articles of wearing
apparel, and broke open trunks and scattered their contents
about the house.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 19, 1837.

Res. Jas. F. McEwen of Topsfield was elected Secretary of
the Essex County Temperance Society at a meeting held Sept.
15th. at the Tabernacle church, Salem.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 26, 1837.

The annual Agricultural Festival was held at Topsfield, on
Wednesday, 27th ult., and the farming interest from every part
of the county was fully and respectably represented

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 87

The show of animals was not numerous, but there were some
superior cows, and excellent working oxen. The number of fat
cattle was small ; there were a few young horses ; there were
two lots of swine of a good description and condition ; of sheep
there were none. The ploughing match was spiritedly contest-
ed, and much of the work was fine ; the ploughs of an approved
description ; the teams well trained, and the ploughmen and
drivers skillful and ambitious.

Of domestic and household manufactures the collection was
not extensive, but commendable for the industry, patience and
skill exhibited. The vegetables made a good display ; there was
much superior fruit, and many a beautiful boquet of flowers.
There were valuable specimens of Indian corn exhibited ; and
other useful vegetables and products.

The Address in the afternoon, by the Rev. Mr. Gage, of
Haverhill, was deservedly well received, evincing good taste and
good sense ; and the day was spent without any circumstance to
disturb its festivities, and in a highly agreeable and useful manner.

The Address was followed by the Reports of the Committees,
which were, as always, listened to with a strong interest ; and
we cannot doubt were made up in the exercise of a sound and
discriminating judgment, reluctant to give offence, but conscien-
tious in the performance of duty.

These exhibitions deserve every encouragement, and since the
improvement in public manners which has taken place by the
diminution, we wish we could say, the entire abolition, of the
facilities and excitements to intemperance, many, and the only
great objections to these celebrations have been removed. They
bring the farmers together under circumstances adapted to ex-
cite the deepest gratitude to a beneficent Providence ; they make
them acquainted with each other, and produce a most beneficial
interchange of kind affections and sympathies ; they excite in-
quiry and diffuse much useful information of the condition and
the improvements in agriculture and domestic industry and
economy, and they produce a manly and animated competition,
unmixed with any ill feelings, because here there is no monop-
oly ; the field is open to all ; and the beneficial results are in
every case diffused, and universally shared by all.

A premium of $20 was awarded the citizens of Topsfield for
a team of 40 yoke of working oxen.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 3, 1837.

John Wright of Topsfield has been elected one of the Direc-
tors of the Village Bank in Danvers.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 17, 1837.

88 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Topsfield Bridge. The bridge on the Newburyport Turn-
pike, in Topsfield, fell through last week, and is now impassable.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 5, 1837.

Died. At Topsfield, Mr. John Fisk, 47. He died very sud-
denly in the street.

Salem Gazette, Dec. 8, 1837.

COURT CALENDAR.

The court of Common Pleas commenced its session in Ipswich
on Monday last. Judge Strong on the bench. We learn that
about 250 new civil actions were entered, a rather larger number
than usual. The first civil trial, commenced after the calling of
the docket was concluded on Tuesday afternoon, between Asa
Pingree of Topsfield, Pltf., and Francis Curtis of Boxford, Dft.
It is an action of trover , technically so called, which alleges that
the pltf. was owner of certain to wit one cord of pine slabs,
of the value of $3, which the pltf. lost, and which came into
the possession of the dft. by finding, who refused to deliver the
same one cord of pine slabs to the pltf. on demand, but convert-
ed the same to his own use. The form of the declaration being
purely technical, the question for trial is whether the dft. had,
previously to the date of the writ, any slabs in his possession
which rightfully belonged to the pltf. About one hundred wit-
nesses are in attendance. This action was originally tried be-
fore the police court in Salem, and on appeal was tried at the
June term of the P. C., consuming three days time of the
court, and the jury disagreed. The case is conducted with a
zeal and ingenuity worthy a much better cause by Samuel H.
Mann, Esq., of Lowell, for the pltf. and L. Saltonstall and N. J.
Lord, Esqrs. of Salem for the dft.

Salem Gazette, Dec. 26, 1837.

At a Court of County Commissioners, held last Tuesday, a
petition was presented by Charles H. Holmes and others, for a
road in Topsfield, from near the house of Benjamin Symonds, to
near the centre school house.

Salem Gazette, Dec. 29, 1837.

Died. In Topsfield, on the 16th inst., Mrs. Anna Averill,
aged 40. She was amiable in natural character, and seriously
inclined from childhood, and for several of the last years of her
life, the hopeful subject of true faith in Christ. She has long
been afflicted with poor health, when somewhat more than a year

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 89

ago it became evident that the fatal disease, consumption , was
seated on her. From that time suffering much pain, she looked
forward to her dissolution with Christian resignation, and when
death finally approached, she met his embrace without fear, as she
then felt that she could commit herself to the Savior of sinners.

Com.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 19, 1838.

Died. In Topsfield, Mr. Moses Wildes, aged 60; Mr. Kobert
Lake, aged 31 ; Mr. Richard Osborn, a revolutionary soldier,
aged 99.

Salem Gazette, Jan. 23, 1838.

STATISTICS OF ESSEX COUNTY.

We copy the following account of the condition of certain
branches of industry in the County of Essex, from the “ Statis-
tical Tables/7 prepared by the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
in compliance with a Act of the Legislature, of 19th April last.

Topsfield.

Common Sheep, 255, wool produced 765 lbs., average weight
of fleece 3 lbs., value of wool 306, capital invested 1530.

Boots manufactured 900 pairs, Shoes 124.396 pairs; value
of boots and shoes, 98,676, males employed 272, females 269.

Salem Gazette, Feb. 6, 1838.

NEW LINE OF STAGES.

A new line of Stages has been established between Salem and
Haverhill. Leaving Salem on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
days at 9-j- o’clock A. M. arriving in Haverhill at 1 o’clock on
said days. Leaving Haverhill on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays, at 11 J o’clock A. M. arriving in Salem at 3 o’clock, on
said days.

This line is connected in Salem with other Stages, running to
and from Boston, Gloucester, Ipswich, Marblehead and other
places. And is connected in New Rowley with a stage running
on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, to Amesbury Factory
Village, Exeter and Dover; — and with a stage running on Mon-
days, Wednesdays, and Fridays, to Lowell.

On Mondays a stage will leave New Rowley for the Rail Road
in Bradford, in season for the morning cars. — And on Saturdays
will leave for New Rowley after the arrival of the evening cars.

Books kept at the Lafayette Coffee House, and Salem Hotel.

90 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

At the Eagle House in Haverhill and at Savory’s Hotel in Hew
Rowley.

Jan. 24, 1838.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 6, 1838.

[Wood cut of a stage coach.]

Haverhill and Concord Stage.

The Stage for Haverhill and Concord starts from Salem, at 7
o’clock in the morning, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Stage office, Lafayette Coffee House.

Salem, July 4, 1837.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 16, 1838.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

The Whigs of Essex County are requested to send the usual
number of delegates to a convention for the nomination of can-
didates for County Commissioners, — at Topsfield, on Monday
next, 23d inst., at 10 o’clock in the forenoon.

This notice is issued, in compliance with an unanimous vote
of the Whig members of the Essex County delegation in the
Legislature.

Salem, April 17.

Salem Gazette , April 17, 1838.

Mr. Foote — In reading the Gazette of Tuesday, I noticed the
calling of a “ Convention ” to be held at Topsfield on Monday
next, for the nomination of County Commissioners. As there
was no place of meeting defined, perhaps the delegates who at-
tend would not know to which Hotel it would be at withou-
some further notice.

Therefore I would suggest the idea (if no particular place is
determined upon) good accommodations may be had at the “ Vil-
lage Hotel,” kept by Capt. Wm. Munday. G.

Topsfield, April 18, 1838.

Salem Gazette , April 20, 1838.

NOTICE

Is hereby given that Samuel Gould hath this day assigned
to the subscribers all his property, for the benefit of his cred-
itors.

THOMAS AVERILL,
CHARLES GOULD.

Topsfield, April 27, 1838.

Salem Gazette , May 4, 1838.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 91

NOTICE

Is hereby given, that ANSEL GOULD hath this day assigned
to the subscribers all his property, for the benefit of his creditors.

JOSIAH BRADSTREET,
JOHN BEADSTREET.

Topsfield, May 19, 1838.

Salem Gazette , May 25, 1838.

A few Invalid Boarders

May be accomodated in Topsfield, with board, horse and car-
riage exercise, bathing, &c. Enquire of

DE. R, A. MEERIAM.

Topsfield, June 19, 1838.

Salem Gazette , June 19, 1838.

Topsfield Hotel. We notice with pleasure that this old
and respectable establishment has fallen into the hands of Mr.
Holland, for many years known to all travellers on the great
Eastern route, as one of the most intelligent, obliging, and
temperate of that exemplary body of drivers.

Salem Gazette , July 13, 1838.

At a meeting of the County Commissioners held last Tuesday
morning, a petition was presented from the selectmen of Tops-
field, for the discontinuance of a town way in Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , July 13, 1838.

TOPSFIELD HOTEL.

The subscriber has taken the above very spacious and commo-
dious Hotel, on the Boston and Newbury port Turnpike, and has
fitted up the same in the best manner for travellers and boarders.
The situation is one of the most commanding and delightful in
the country ; the distance is but 20 miles from Boston, 9 miles
from Salem, and 12 from Newburyport, and it is believed
that few places in the vicinity of the metropolis present so many
inducements for a summer residence.

The apartments are spacious and airy ; the table will be sup-
plied with the choicest products of the market, and every atten-
tion shown to individuals and families, whether they remain for
a single night, or during the warm season.

JOHN HOLLAND.

Topsfield, July 13.

Salem Gazette , July 27, 1838.

92 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

To the Hon. the County Commissioners for the County of Es-
sex, respectfully represent the subscribers, selectmen of Tops-
field, in said County,

That on the sixteenth day of April last, a town-way was lo-
cated in said Topsfield, beginning at a stake one rod easterly
from the corner of John Sawyer’s shop, thence N. 748 E. to a
point on the westerly side of the Haverhill road at a point forty
four feet from the southeasterly corner of Richard Phillips jr’s
dwellinghouse ; which way in the opinion of many of the Inhab-
itants of said Topsfield it would be highly expedient to discon-
tinue. And the inhabitants of said Topsfield at a legal town
meeting held for that purpose, on the twelth day of June last,
" Voted, that the Selectmen may be authorised and directed to
petition the County Commissioners at the July term, to discon-
tinue the road recently laid out near the meeting house on the
petition of Charles H. Holmes and others.”

Wherefore, in pursuance of said vote and instruction, your
petitioners respectfully pray that after a hearing in the premises,
the said way may be discontinued.

CORNELIUS K. BRADSTREET,

i

Select

NATHANIEL PERLEY,

men

WILLIAM RAY,

Y

of

MOSES WILDES,

Tops-

A. S. PEABODY,

J

field.

The Commissioners appointed a public hearing at the Tops-
field Hotel on Aug. 15, 1838 at 9 A. M.

Salem Gazette , July 27, 1838.

Narrow Escape. The Village Hotel, at Topsfield, kept by
Mr. Munday, had a narrow escape from fire, on Friday night
last. A traveller had thrown the end of his cigar into one of
those disgusting objects “a spitoon,” filled with sawdust, and
nothing occured to lead to a suspicion of any harm from it
before the household retired to rest. It seems, however, that the
sawdust ignited slowly, and about two o’clock in the morning a
hostler sleeping in the bar room was awaked by a suffocating
smoke. It was soon ascertained that the sawdust and box con-
taining it were consumed, and that a large hole was burnt
through the floor. With a little fresh air, and a little more time,
the house would probably have been destroyed.

Salem Gazette, Aug. 10, 1838.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 93

Take Notice.

STRAYED or stolen from the yard of the subscriber last
Sunday night, one LIGHT RED COW, with a white face, about
ten years old, one DARK RED COW, with large horns, about
eight years old, one RED COW, about seven years old — Who-
ever will return said cows, or give information where they may
be found, shall be well rewarded.

BENJAMIN PIKE.

Topsfield, Aug. 21.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 21, 1838.

The three cows, advertised in Tuesday’s paper, were stolen
from the pen, in Topsfield, on Sunday night last, and recovered
on Monday morning. The thief is believed to be well known,
but has escaped for the present. The cows were tracked all the
way from Topsfield to Saugus, where they were found in the
pound, having been driven through the toll-gate before sunrise
that morning. They were offered for sale to the gatekeeper ;
and shortly afterward the thief was met by a couple of Topsfield
men, who were unacquainted with the robbery. This meeting
frightened him, probably, and he left the cows, who strayed
back toward the toll-gate, where they were stopped and im-
pounded.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 24, 1838.

Topsfield, September 1st, 1838.

MR. EDITOR : — Will you please put in your paper the fol-
lowing :

GREAT GENEROSITY, — A gentleman in the Town of T

found a small wallet (or pocket book,) in the town of M .

The gentleman did not ask the owner only ONE dollar for it.

Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 4, 1838.

ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Annual Exhibition by the Society will be at Topsfield, on
Thursday, September 27th.

The Trustees and Committees will meet at the house of Mr.
William Munday, at 9 o’clock, A. M.

All claims for premiums, to be awarded on the day of exhibi-
tion, must be entered with the Secretary of the Society, or his
agent, on or before 9 o’clock, A. M., on that day.

94 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

All other claims for premiums must be handed or forwarded
to the Secretary in writing.

All articles of Domestic Manufacture must be entered with the
Agent of the Secretary, at the Hall, where they will be exhibited.

After the Committee have closed their examination (say about
12 o’clock), the Hall will be open for visitors.

Butter, Cheese, Fruits and Flowers, will be deposited, under
the direction of the several committees, who have charge of these
subjects.

All animals or articles exhibited, will be required to remain
for the inspection of the public until 2 o’clock P. M.

The Ploughing Match will take place, under the direction of
the committees on this subject, at 10 o’clock A. M.

The trial of Oxen and the examination of horses, will be im-
mediately after.

Gentlemen who have fine fruits or superior vegetable produc-
tions of any kind, and who feel an interest in advancing the ob-
jects of the Society and sustaining the character of the County,
are respectfully requested to bring them forward.

The members of the Society and invited guests will dine to-
gether at Mr. Munday’s at half-past 1 o’clock.

At 3 o’clock, P. M., the Society will meet at the Meeting
House, to hear an Address by the Rev. Mr. Withixgton, of
Newbury ; after which the Reports of the several committees
will be submitted, and the usual business of the Annual Meeting
transacted.

By order of the Committee of Arrangements.

Attest, J. W. PROCTOR, Sec'ry
Topsfield, Sept. 8, 1838.

Salem Gazette, Sept . 11, 1838.

Topsfield. Mr. Edward Hood has been appointed Postmas-
ter at Topsfield, and the post office has been removed from the
Hotel into the village.

Salem Gazette, September 18, 1838.

DIED. In Topsfield, on Thursday last, in the 30th year of
her age, Miss Eunice Wells, daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Wells.
It need not be said to those who were acquainted with the de-
ceased that in her death we have sustained a loss which is irre-
parable. In the earlier part of her life she at all times exer-
cised that uniformity of character and amiableness in her dispo-
sition which secured to her parents, brothers and sisters her con-
stant and never tiring efforts to promote their happiness and

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 95

win to herself that affection from them which is merited but by
few. And when we say that the latter part of her life was
characterized by a constant devotedness to the religion which
she professed, we do say the Church and Sabbath school have
sustained a loss which will long be felt. The circumstances
connected with her death are these. She left her father’s house
to attend the wedding of a brother who resided but a short dis-
tance. No sooner had she arrived at her brother’s than she was
met by the angel of death. Alas ! how soon are our anticipated
joys turned to grief and our expectations blasted ! Surrounded
as she was by a circle of her friends who with herself had as-
sembled to enjoy the festivals of a wedding, the same can better
be imagined than described. — Com.

Salem Gazette , September IS, 1838.

Military. The volunteer corps of the second brigade, second
division, consisting of two companies of Cavalry, two of Artil-
lery, and eight of Light Infantry and Riflemen, will meet for
Inspection and Review, at Newburyport, today. The Salem
Brass Band will accompany the Topsfield Light Infantry on the
occasion.

Salem Gazette , September 25, 1838.

TOPSFIELD HOTEL.

Agricultural Dinner.

The subscriber will set a table for one hundred persons at
half past one o’clock on Thursday next, when a first rate dinner
will be provided at the rate of fifty cents a head.

Sept. 25. John Holland.

Topsfield Hotel.

Salem Gazette , September 25, 1838.

Essex County Cattle Show and Fair.

Notwithstanding the severity of the storm the Essex Agricul-
tural Society had a very interesting exhibition at Topsfield yes-
terday. The ploughing match was well contested ; — 12 teams
were entered. The animals in the pens, though less in number
than when the weather has been more favorable, were many of
them very handsome. More than 100 articles of Domestic Man-
ufacture were exhibited, many of which were very beautiful, and
speak well for the ingenuity and industry of the ladies, who
have always contributed largely to the interest of such occasions.
The manufactured articles generally were very creditable to the

96

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

competitors, and at a proper time the Committee will give the
public a good account of them.

Nearly 50 specimens of fruits and vegetables were exhibited,
some of which were rare and of great beauty. There were
many choice vegetables and some of very great size, particularly
squashes and beets. Salem contributed some fine apples and
pears, and some other towns were well represented. The season
has been favorable for fruits, and had the day been favorable the
exhibition would have surpassed all former shows.

The dinner was provided by Mr. Munday of the Village Hotel
in his best style, and a large company did ample justice to his
generous fare. There were many choice fruits, such as pears,
grapes, and melons upon the table.

The exercises in the meeting house were appropriate and in-
teresting, and the Address by Rev. Mr. Withington was all that
was expected from his established character for ingenuity and
learning. The number present notwithstanding the unfavorable-
ness of the weather and the spirit manifested, gave demonstra-
tion that this farmer’s holiday has lost none of its interest, and
that the Essex Agricultural Society is productive of great and
permanent advantage to the community.

Salem Gazette , September 28, 1838.

Unprecedented Shots. Mr. William G. Lake, of Topsfield,
shot five wild geese at two shots, on Wednesday. They were in
a very excellent condition. Each weighed eight pounds and
upwards.

Topsfield, Oct. 4, 1838.

Salem Gazette , October 5, 1838.

Education.

The County Convention of the friends of education will meet
at Topsfield this Day, at 11 o’clock. Addresses are expected
from Hon. Horace Mann, Secretary of the Board of Education,
and one or more members of the Board, as well as from other
distinguished individuals.

Salem Gazette , October 5, 1838.

A battalion of Light Infantry is expected to assemble at the
East Parish meeting house in Boxford, on Thursday, 18th inst.,
consisting of the following companies : — Washington Guards,
Boxford ; Low’s Volunteers, Ipswich [Linebrook Parish] ; and
the Topsfield Warren Blues. In the afternoon there will be a
sham engagement between a company of Volunteer Indians and

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 97

the Light Infantry. The Topsfield Warren Blues will be ac-
companied by the Salem Brass Band.

Salem Gazette , October 12, 1838.

Education Convention.

A County Convention of the friends of education was to have
been held at Topsfield on the fifth inst., and the able and inde-
fatigable Secretary of the Board of Education was present to
address the assembly. Owing, however, entirely , as we hope, to
the inadvertency which occured somewhere, and by means of
which scarcely any public notice was given of this meeting, it
was very thinly attended ; and we have seen no notice of its
doings, if there were any.

The preceding paragraph was written for our last paper, but
crowded out with many other things. — On Saturday last, the offi-
cial record of the Convention was handed to us, as follows.

The Convention called by the Secretary of the Board of Edu-
cation for the purpose of collecting information relative to the
condition of the Common Schools in this County, assembled at
Topsfield, on Friday, Oct. 5.

The Convention was called to order by the Rev. Mr. McEwen
of Topsfield.

Mr. Jacob Batchelder, of Lynn, was called to the chair, and
John Batchelder of Lynn was chosen Secretary.

The forenoon was occupied in an animated discussion of the
methods usually adopted in teaching orthography and reading,,
which was ably sustained by several gentlemen from different
parts of the County, among whom were Robert Rantoul, jr..
Esq., of Gloucester, Rev. Mr. Putnam, of Danvers, Dr. Choate
and Oliver Carlton, Esq., of Salem, David Choate, Esq., of Es-
sex, Rev. Mr. Robbins and Mr. Jonathan Tuttle, of Lynn, and
Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Beverly.

After a recess of one hour, the Convention reassembled at 2
o’clock, and at 2 1-2 o’clock listened to a lecture from the Hon.
Horace Mann.

Following that, certain resolutions were adopted by the Con-
vention.

John Batchelder, Sec’y.

Topsfield, Oct. 5, 1838.

Salem Gazette, October 16, 1838.

Anniversary of the Boxford Washington Guards.

This beautiful company, under command of Capt. Wm. Low,
celebrated its fourth anniversary on Thursday last. By invita-

98 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

tion from Capt. Low, a battalion of infantry, composed of the
Washington Guards, the Warren Blues and Low’s Volunteers,
formed near the line between Topsfield and Boxfoid, whence
they marched to the residence of Gen. Solomon Low, where
they were cordially received by the general, his staff, Col. Per-
ley, Maj. Clark, and other officers of the field. Here they par-
took of an elegant collation provided by the Gen. and were ad-
dressed by him.

About two in the afternoon, the companies and invited guests
repaired to Washington Hall, where several hundred sat down
to a sumptuous dinner furnished by the guards, and prepared
by Mr. William Munday in the very best style. Soon after
dinner, the battalion marched to the field, and encountered, in a
sham engagement, two large companies dressed in Indian cos-
tume, commanded by Capts. Kimball and Peabody.

The day was closed in a manner worthy of its commencement.
In the evening the Topsfield Warren Blues and others repaired
to the public house kept by Capt. Wm. Munday, where they list-
ened to the Salem Brass Band.

Salem Gazette, October 26, 1838.

Teachers’ Meeting.

The ninth annual meeting of the Essex County Teachers’
Association will be held at Topsfield on Friday and Saturday ,
Nov. 30th and Dec. 1st, at which time the following Lectures
may be expected — viz :

On Friday, at 11 o’clock, from the Rev. Samuel M. Worcester
of Salem — on the English Language. At half past 2, P. M.,
from Moses T. Parish of Salem — on Our Profession. At half
past 3, from the Rev. N. Munroe of Bradford — on Teaching the
Courtesies of Life . On Saturday, at 9 o’clock, from Jacob
Batchelder of Lynn — on The best method of Teaching Reading.
At 11 o’clock from Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., of Bradford — on
The Geology of Essex County.

Discussions will follow each lecture in due course. Important
Reports may be expected at this meeting, from committees ap-
pointed to examine the various published systems of English
Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography, and on Reading Books.

%* School committees, instructors, and friends to the cause
of education, are respectfully invited to be present and contrib-
ute to the interest of the occasion.

George Titcomb,

Newburyport, Nov. 23. Corresponding Secretary.

Salem Gazette , November 23, 1838.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 99

DIED. In Topsfield, on the 5th inst., Lucy Cleaveland, eldest
daughter of the late Nehemiah Cleaveland, aged 38. During a
protracted sickness of more than six years continuance, and of
a most distressing and hopeless character, Miss Cleaveland man-
ifested, in a remarkable degree, the patience and resignation of
the Christian.

Salem Gazette , December 14, 1838.

The towns of Hamilton, Topsfield, Wenham, and Middleton,
have petitioned the legislature to restore the fish way in Ipswich
river, according to the act of 1788. It seems by subsequent
acts that the Cotton Manufacturing Company, on said river,
have raised their dam so high that alewives and shad cannot go
over it, and have not been over it since 1827.

Salem Gazette , March 19, 1839.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The first Summer term of this Institution will commence on
Wednesday, April 10, and continue twelve weeks, under the
superintendence of Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq., late Preceptor
of Bradford Academy.

The young ladies and gentlemen, who may be placed under
his care, will receive instruction in all the various branches of
an English and Classical Education.

He will be provided with such Assistants as the number of
Students may require.

Tuition for English studies, $5.00 per term. — For Classical
studies, $6.00 per term.

Board in good families can be obtained at $2.00 per week.

Students can be furnished with Books and Stationery at the
Institution.

Communications respecting the Academy may be addressed to
Bev. Mr. McEwen, C. H. Holmes, Esq., and Mr. Bichard Phil-
lips, jr.

Topsfield, March 19, 1839.

Salem Gazette , March 22, 1839.

Essex County Fisheries.

In the Senate, yesterday (Monday), the Committee on the
Fisheries reported on the petition of Benjamin Woodbury, in
behalf of the towns of Hamilton and Topsfield, Wenham and
Middleton, in aid of the petition, proposing to refer it to the
next Legislature.

100 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

The Report stated, that by the Act of 1781, these towns had
and enjoyed a Right to take fish in Ipswich River, which was
valuable to them ; but by the subsequent Acts of 1826 and 1829
these rights mere made valueless, no Shad or Alewives having
passed up the River above Farley’s Dam since 1826. The
Ipswich Manufacturing Company remonstrated against the Peti-
tion, but the Committee were satisfied that there ought to be a
good and sufficient passageway for the fish to pass up freely, and
the Remonstrants admitted all this.

Upon the question of accepting the Report, Mr. King of
Essex moved to recommit with instructions to report a Bill to
provide a sufficient passageway.

This proposition was discussed by Messrs. King , Spofford, and
Whitmarsh, in favor of it, and Mr. Meigs against it ; the Chair-
man of the Committee, Mr. Mar stony also making a statement of
what the Company were willing to do.

But the motion of Mr. King to recommit prevailed without a
division, and a Bill is to be reported tomorrow.

Salem Gazette, April 2, 1839.

Essex County Teachers’ Association.

The semi-annual meeting of the E. C. T. A. will be held at
Topsfield on Friday and Saturday, the 24th and 25th inst., in
the Hall of the Academy.

The following lectures may be expected, viz : Friday, A. M.,

10 1-2 o’clock, by Rev. Mr. True, of Lynn, on the history and
utility of Logic. P. M., 1 1-2 o’clock, by Dr. Durkee of Lynn,
on Physical education. 3 o’clock, by the President of the Asso-
ciation, on the Geology of Essex County. Saturday, 9 1-2 A. M.,
by J. W. Browne, Esq., of Lynn, on the Cultivation of the
taste and imagination. 11 o’clock, by Mr. Towndrow of Salem,
on Penmanship. Discussions will follow each lecture.

Teachers, members of School Committees, and all friends of
Education, are invited to attend.

M. P. Parish, Cor. Sec’y.

Salem, May 17, 1839.

Salem Gazette , May 17, 1839.

Topsfield Academy. — The second Summer term of this
institution will commence on Wednesday, July 24, and continue
twelve weeks under the care of Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq.
Young Ladies and Gentlemen will be instructed in all the vari-
ous branches of an English and classical education, including
pure and mixed Mathematics. Particular attention will be de-

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

101

voted to those students who are preparing to be Teachers, and
for the compting room. A short course of familiar lectures on
Chemistry, Botany, stc., will be given, for which there will be
no extra charge to the students. Mr. Greenleaf will be assisted
by competent teachers. Tuition, $5 per term. Board in good
families may be obtained at $2 per week. There will be a short
vacation of two days and a half, at the time of the meeting of
the American Institute. For further information, reference may
be had to Rev. James T. McEwen, Charles H. Holmes, Esq., or
Joseph C. Batchelder, m. d.

Richard Phillips, Secretary.

Topsfield, July 5, 1839

Salem Gazette, July 12, 1839.

To the Court of County Commissioners for the
County of Essex.

The undersigned respectfully represent, that the County road
leading from Salem through Topsfield to Georgetown, has ever
been a subject of much complaint, on account of the difficulty of
passing the river hill, so called, in Topsfield. This hill, on ac-
count of its steepness and great height, presents a serious obsta-
cle in travelling this road, and it being very broad on the top, it
is impossible to reduce it or improve it much where the road
now is ; and as this is one of the greatest travelled roads in the
County, the public is much interested in having an improvement,
by which the peculiar difficulty of passing this hill may be
avoided. In the opinion of the undersigned such an improve-
ment may be had, by making a new piece of road through a
valley that runs through said hill some distance to the eastward
of the present road.

It has been found by actual survey and computation, that the
highest point of elevation over which a road would have to pass
through this valley would be fifty feet lower than the hill where
the road now passes it ; and the rise is so gradual that the steep-
est place need not be more than half a degree more than half as
steep as the Turnpike hill and probably not half as steep as the
hill on the County road ; and the course is so much more direct
that a saving of about forty rods will be made in the distance
of travel.

We are therefore of the opinion that the public necessity and
convenience requires that a road should be located through this
valley to be connected at each end with the present road : —

We therefore respectfully petition this court to adopt meas-

102 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

ures to cause a new piece of road to be located and made, com-
mencing by the Newburyport Turnpike opposite to where the
road recently made through land of Dr. Treadwell, meets the
same ; thence running about twenty-five degrees east of south to
a point a little east of John Dwinnel’s bam, thence south about
twelve degrees west to the new piece of road north of Elias
Putnam’s house ; or in such other course as may be found most
judicious — and as in duty bound will ever pray.

John Kimball and others.

The County Commissioners appointed a hearing at the Tops-
field Hotel for Sept. 4th, at 9 A. M.

Salem Gazette , July 23, 1839.

Copper Mine.

There has been opened, within a few weeks, a Copper Mine in
the neighboring town of Topsfield, in this county. It is in the
southwest side of the town, near the Danvers and Middleton
lines. It promises thus far, we understand, to yield a good
quantity and quality of this metal.

This mine is not a recent discovery, but the revival of an old
one. The history of it is substantially thus : Some seventy

years back, there was living in the town of Topsfield, or its near
vicinity, an Englishman by the name of Bunting. He was of a
scientific turn, — solitary and meditative in his habits, and spent
much of his time in wandering about in the then extensive
woods of that region. In one of his rambles, in passing over
the location of the mine in question, he conceived that he saw
evidence of the presence of copper ore. This led him to farther
investigation. An excavation was made, and some ore obtained,
which upon the process of smelting was found to yield copper.
He made known his discovery to the owner of the land, and en-
tered into an agreement with him for the working of the mine
upon the condition that Bunting should do it at his own cost,
and give the proprietor of the field one sixteenth part of the
copper obtained. Accordingly a pit was opened to a considera-
ble depth, which not yielding very abundantly, was abandoned,
and a second tried, which produced more freely. A large quan-
tity of the ore was thus dug — enough to lade one vessel of
considerable size, and shipped for England, from this very port,
— we believe, — there to be smelted. Bunting arrived in England
with his ore, — but was taken sick, and died very shortly after
his arrival. What was done with the ore, or how it remunerated
the expense of so long transportation, does not appear. The

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 103

project seems to have died there with the projector. Bunting
not returning to this country, and no tidings being heard of him,
it was very naturally supposed to have resulted in a total failure,
Accordingly, the mine was neglected, bushes sprang up on the
spot, and it was soon forgotten. It has always gone by the
name of the “ Mine Lot,7’ — and has frequently changed owners.

The history of the affair was in the process of years forgot-
ten, or lay dormant in the memory of a few individuals. There
was a sort of misty tradition handed down concerning the
“ Mine Lot,” which was, that a strange foreigner once undertook
to dig gold or money there ; and that he suddenly disappeared,
and, as supposed, was swallowed up in the earth. This was be-
lieved by a few timid and superstitious of a later generation ;
and some had a dread of going throngh the “Mine Lot” by
night, as it had been reported that an unearthly, grim-looking
figure had been seen walking guard there armed with a huge
branch of an old oak tree which had been scattered by lightning
in the vicinity. Few, however, believed this story.

Within a very few years past, a descendant of Bunting, in
England, inherited some property of his, — and among other
things, some of his papers came into his nands. Among them
he discovered the very agreement relating to the working of the
Copper Mine, — describing it as situated in “ the Colony of Mas-
sachusetts, North America, etc.” The young man not knowing
but that an immense fortune was here buried in the earth for
him, undertook with his papers, a voyage to the U. States. He
visited the Office of the Registry of Deeds in this city, to ascer-
tain by ancient records the location and identity of the mine
which was the object of his search. Upon inquiry concerning
the matter being made in Topsfield a recollection of the old
affair and person was awakened in the memory of an aged indi-
vidual there. Suffice it to say, that traces of the two pits were
discovered, almost obliterated by time. Whether the agreement
was not stilj binding, or whether the young Englishman did not
consider the object worth farther pursuit, — or whether he sold
his right and title, we do not know. He shortly after left the
country. Some enterprising individuals of late have purchased
the “ lot,” and the digging of the ore is now going on with flat-
tering prospects. — Observer.

Salem Gazette , August 9, 1839.

The Whigs of Topsfield held a meeting last Saturday evening,
and chose Col. Nath’l Perley and William E. Kimball, Esq. as
delegates to attend the Convention at W orcester on the 11th inst.

Salem Gazette , September 10, 1839.

104 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

DIED. In Topsfield, very suddenly, Mr. Bartholomew
Con ant, aged 66. He always sustained the character of an
honest and upright man ; was a good citizen, and much respect-
ed by all with whom he was acquainted. Although called sud-
denly to bid farewell to earthly scenes, yet, we trust, he was
ready to depart. For several years he has been a professed
Christian, and an ornament to the church of which he was a
member. Kindness and meekness were in all his doings.

Salem Gazette , September 24, 1839.

Essex ss. To the Honorable Court of County Commission-
ers, begun and holden at Newburyport within and for said
county on the second Tuesday in October, A. D. 1839.

The undersigned inhabitants of said County, respectfully
represent that the high-way leading from Topsfield to Danvers
and Salem, over Wenham causey, so called, is in parts thereof
hilly, and in parts thereof greatly circuitous ; and that the pub-
lic convenience and necessity require that a more easy, level
and direct communication should be opened between said towns
to Topsfield, Danvers and Salem, for the accommodation of the
public travel in that direction.

Wherefore they pray that after due proceedings had in the
premises, that said highway beginning at the point where it in-
tersects the road leading by the dwelling house of Benj. C. and
David Perkins in Topsfield, and terminating at a point in the
highway in Wenham leading by the dwelling house of Warren
Peabody, where the road recently laid out and established on
the petition of John Porter and others meets said last named
highway, may be made more level in the hilly parts and more
direct in the circuitous parts thereof, by such alterations, reduc-
tions, repairs and new locations between the termini aforesaid,
as in the judgment of your Honor the public good requires, and
as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Jacob P. Towns and others.

The County Commissioners appointed a hearing at the Tops-
field Hotel for Dec. 3rd, 1839, at 10 A. M.

Salem Gazette , October , 22, 1839.

Notice.

The annual meeting of the Essex Teacher's Association will be
held at Topsfield Academy on Friday and Saturday, the 29th and
30th inst.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 105

The following lectures may be expected, viz :

On Friday forenoon, at half past 10 o’clock, by Rev. Mr.
Truce of Lynn, upon the Nature and Utility of Logic.

At half past 10 o’clock P. M. by Mr. Allen of Haverhill Aca-
demy, upon English Grammar and Composition.

At 3 o’clock by Mr. Weed, of Ipswich, upon Agriculture as a
part of Common School Education.

On Saturday, A. M. at 9 o’clock, a lecture by R. Rantoul, Jr.
various subjects pertaining and the subject of education will be
brought up for discussion by the Association.

M. P. Parish, Cor. Sec’y.

Salem, Nov. 26th, 1839.

Salem Gazette , November 26, 1839.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

Mr. Editor, — By the last quarterly catalogue of this Insti-
tution, it appears that the whole number of students the last
term is eighty one. The winter term has lately commenced
under the care of Asa Farwell, Esq., a gentleman of high liter-
ary attainments, and an able and experienced Instructor ; and
well qualified to teach in all the various branches of an English
and Classical education. Board in good families can be had for
$2 per week, washing included. The present term will contin-
ue 18 weeks. Tuition at the rate of $5 for 12 weeks ; an extra
price is required of those scholars who attend to Civil Engineer-
ing, and the French and German languages. The trustees have
made arrangements to have a course of lectures this term on
Astronomy, Chemistry, Physiology, etc. illustrated by diagrams,
preparations and models. These are to be given without addi-
tional expense to all the members of the institution. It is
believed these lectures will be an important improvement in
illustrating the various subjects to which the minds of the
students may be directed. The location of this institution is
uncommonly pleasant — both in respect to its beautiful scenery
and good influence. The opening of the Winter term of this
Academy, under the existing favorable circumstances, offers a
rare opportunity to those who wish to place their sons and
daughters in a situation favorable to the cultivation of good
habits, in respect to economy, industry and thorough scholar-
ship.

T. F. R.

Salem Gazette , December 20, 1839

106 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

IdjjpThe Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston, will deliver a Lecture
before the Topsfield Atheneum Association, in Rev. Mr.
McEwen’s Meeting House, on Tuesday,Evening, Jan. 21, at half
past 6 o’clock. — Subject — His travels in’ Ephesus. Admittance
free :

Tops. A. Association.

Salem Gazette , January 17, 1840.

MR. EDITOR. — Will you be so obliging as to give room to
a few words concerning the concert of the Salem Brass Band,
at Topsfield, on Wednesday, the 5th inst. I speak of the spirit
of liberality manifested towards this association, by the young
men in the vicinity of Topsfield. Sleigh load after sleigh load
drove up, put their equipages iti the shed and then came up to
the outside of the meeting house, to hear and see. Most of the
lower windows being filled with the faces of liberal minded
souls looking in. There were about one hundred inside of the
house, the entry was crowded, and all of three hundred outside
supposed to be from some Navy Yard about there. The price
of tickets was 25 cents ; one liberal minded worthy suggested
the propriety of putting them at 12 1-2 cts. Children , half

price. 6 1-4 ct ! “No you don’t”.

“ The outside passengers” must be greatly obliged to the
proprietors of the House for the use of the shed to put up in,
while they were attending the Concert on the outside of the
House. A communication in the Observer of Saturday the 8th
says “ we hope and trust the thinness of the house will be ex-
cused by the Band , when they consider the shortness of the
notice and the coldness of the weather.” I have no doubt the
Band will excuse it, also the thinness of those “ outside passen-
gers” who it is to be hoped will excuse the coldness of the wea-
ther.

M. H.

Salem, Feb. 14, 1840.

Salem Gazette , February 14, 1840.

“ Topsfield Good Yet ! The democrats carried their whole
ticket for town officers in Topsfield.”

Salem Advertiser , of Wednesday.

This is equally untrue with the Wenharn and Danvers stores.
That is, — there is not a word of truth in it. The Whigs in
Topsfield are stronger than they ever were before. Young men
who have never before taken partin polictics are daily coming
out in favor of Harrison, Reform and Free Labor; and their

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 107

example is followed by men who have heretofore avoided com-
mitting themselves in favor of any party ; and better still, by
some, as we are informed, who always opposed Webster and
Clay, but who are strong for Harrison.

The Whig Moderator, Mr. Conan t, was elected by more than
fifty majority. With regard to the town officers, the Whigs
were, as usual, liberal, and reelected Mr. Towne for Clerk, who
is a very suitable and respectable man for the office, having no
other failing than suffering himself to be accounted a Van Bu-
ren man. Four out of the five Selectmen are Whigs, all the
Assessors are Whigs, and most of the other officers are Whigs.

The Advertiser is very unfortunate in relying upon the false
information given to it by its friends.

Salem Gazette , March 13, 1840.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The Spring Term of this Institution will commence, Wednes-
day, April 13th, and continue to the close of the Academic year
in August.

The school will be under the immediate care of the present
principal, Mr. Asa Farwell, A. B. whose qualifications and suc-
cess as an instructor in the various branches of an English and
Classical Education, are regarded by the friends of the Institu-
tion as a sure pledge of its future prosperity.

The location of this academy is uncommonly favorable ; being
in a pleasant and quiet village in the centre of Essex County, it
affords peculiar advantages to those desirous of pursuing their
studies, removed from noise and interruption ; and is in respect to
scenery, health and freedom from bad influences, one of the most
eligible in New England.

The course of instruction is designed to be thorough; and no
pains will be spared in rendering efficient aid to all connected
with the school, in the various branches to which they attend.
The Principal will be assisted by competent instructors, and will
devote particular attention to those Young Ladies and Gentle-
men who are preparing to become teachers. Among other
advantages, the pupils of the institution have the privilege of
attending the Lectures delivered before the Athenaeum Associa-
tion, by gentlemen from different towns and cities in the
vicinity.

It is particularly desirable that scholars should be present at
the commencement of the term. Tuition for the English
branches, $5 p£r quarter. Tuition for the Language, $6. Board

108 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSEIELD.

including washing and lights may be obtained in good families,
near the Academy, for $2 per week.

References — Rev. Mr. Coggin, Boxford — Rev. Mr. Mansfield,
Wenham — Rev. Mr. Braman and Rev. Mr. Burden, Georgetown
— Wm. H. Foster, Esq. and Asahel Hungintton, Esq., Salem —
Rev. M. P. Braman, Danvers — Ferdinand Andrews, Esq. and
Gilbert Brownell, Esq. Boston.

I. C. Batchelder, Secretary.

Topsfield, March 20.

Salem Gazette , April 3, 1840.

The Tenth semi-annual meeting of the Essex County Asso-
ciation, will be held at the Academy in Topsfield, on Friday
and Saturday, the 22d and 23d inst.

The following gentlemen are expected to lecture, viz.

On Friday at 10 o’clock, A. M., Mr. C. H. Allen of Haverhill
Academy, upon English Grammer and Composition.

At half past 1 o’clock P. M. Mr. T. D. P. Stone, of the Female
Seminary, Andover, on Reading.

At 3 o’clock P. M., Rev. L. Coleman, of the Andover Teacher’s
Seminary.

On Saturday, at 9 o’clock, a lecture by Hon. J. Spofford of
Bradford.

At half past 10 o’clock A. M. Rev. A. Tram, of Haverhill, will
lecture.

Various subjects of interest to those engaged in the education
of youth, will be discussed by members of the Association.

Charles Northend, Sec’y.

Danvers, May 19.

Salem Gazette , May 19, 1840.

INDEPENDENCE.

The Whig celebration, in this city, was, in every respect, all
that could be desired. [A three column account follows] . The
Manchester Light Infantry, the Topsfield Warren Blues, and
the Boxford Washington Guards, are all beautiful companies
and added greatly to the splendor of the escort. * * * To show
the spirit by which the escort were animated we need only
mention that the two companies from Boxford and Topsfield
were already formed on Danvers neck by five o’clock in the
morning.

Salem Gazettei July 7, 1840.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 109

The Topsfield Warren Blues tender their thanks to the Salem
Mechanic Light Infantry, and to the Whig citizens generally,
for their kind and hospitable attentions, on the fourth of July.

Salem Gazette , July 10, 1840.

MARRIAGES.

In Topsfield, Mr. Israel Wildes to Miss Lydia Ann Ayer-
ill. Mr. Moses Wildes to Miss Sarah Ann Adams. Mr.
Asa Bradstreet to Miss Nancy Fullerton. Col. Nathaniel
Perley to Miss Elizabeth Waitt. Mr. William R. Adams
to Miss Rebecca J. Hart. Mr. Francis Gould to Miss
Catharine B. Gould. Mr. Frederic Stiles to Miss Sophia
Perkins — all of Topsfield.

Salem Gazette , July 10, 1840.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The annual Catalogue of this Institution has just been issued.
The whole number of young gentlemen and ladies, was 104.
During the fall term Benjamin Greenleaf, Esq. was the princi-
pal ; during the winter and summer terms it has been under the
superintendance of Asa Farwell, Esq., a gentleman of high
literary attainments, and well qualified to teach in all the vari-
ous branches of an English and classical education. The
Academy building is situated on an eminence in a beautiful vil-
lage distinguished for the salubrity of its climate, the neatness
of its dwellings, the beauty of its hills and valleys, and the
purity of its atmosphere. The building is a large and airy
edifice, two stories high, and well adapted to the purpose for
which it was erected. The lower story contains the usual study
room, and an apartment for the library and philosophical appa-
ratus ; the upper story has a large hall and several recitation
rooms. The beautiful location of the Academy, the mode of
instruction which is designed to be such as to secure a thorough
acquaintance with branches pursued, afford peculiar advantages
to those who are desirous of pursuing their studies removed from
noise and interruption ; and to those parents who wish to place
their children where they will avoid temptations to which many
schools are exposed. The annual examination of this insti-
tution occured on Tuesday the 11th. inst. We were especially
pleased with the recitations of a class of young girls in
Latin and Mathematics ; the girls in this class were only 8 years
of age. The improvement realized by this class showed that
the teacher had spared no effort in endeavoring to secure to them

110 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

such both intellectual and moral, as that tender age required.
We were also well pleased with the recitations of the other stu-
dents in Latin and Greek, in Political Economy, and in the
higher branches of Mathematics. The compositions of the young
ladies for maturity of thoughts beauty of imagination, and
devotional feeling, exceeded our anticipations. The performances
of the young gentlemen were highly creditable to themselves,
and were considered as promises of usefulness by their friends.
The valedictory address by Mr. Kilham of Boxford, was an able
effort, and was listened to by all present with heartfelt delight.
The whole exercises were interspersed with instrumental and
vocal music ably performed under the direction of Mr. Allison
H. Palmer, who is connected with the school, and by whom
instruction in vocal and instrumental music is given. The
pupils board in private families near the Academy at a moderate
price, where every attention is paid to their health and happiness.
The next term will commence on the first Wednesday of Sep-
tember and continue 11 weeks.

The public exercises were closed by an appropriate prayer by
Rev. Mr. Mansfield of Wenham.

VERITAS.

August 13, 1840.

Salem Gazette , August 21, 1840.

MILITARY.

A meeting of the Field Officers of the Fourth Brigade, (Essex
County) is to be held at Topsfield, on the 4th of September next,
for the choice of a Brigadier General, under the new organiza-
tion of the volunteer Militia.

Salem Gazette , August 28, 1840.

MILITARY.

On Friday last, Col. Nathaniel Perley, of Topsfield, of the
7th regiment, was elected Brigadier General of the 4th Brigade
2d division Volunteer Militia comprising Essex County.

Salem Gazette , September 8, 1840.

[At the great Whig gathering at Bunker Hill on Sept. 10th
the Topsfield delegation carried a banner described as follows :]
Device. — Sub-Treasury, with head, legs, and tail of a cow ; with
Amos’ children (office holders) frightened from the teats by the
sound of Whig cannon. In the distance the Whig flag of victory
is seen waving amidst clouds of smoke from the Artillery.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. Ill

Motto. — “ Amos’ children (office holders) frightened from
their pap.” On the reverse, “Retrenchment and Punishment.”
“No duty and full pay for the Commodore.— 100 lashes for the
Sailor.”

Salem Gazette , September 11, 1840.

MILITARY.

The 7th Regiment of Light Infantry, commanded by Col.
Horace S. Bradley, together with the other troops in the north
part of the Fourth Brigade, will parade at Topstield, on the 8th
of October, and be reviewed by Brig. Gen. Perley.

The 4th Brigade staff is organized by the appointment of
Nathaniel Conan t, of Topsfield, as Brigade Major and Inspec-
tor; George T. Clark, of Andover, Brigade Quarter Master,
Daniel Richards of Danvers, Aid de Camp.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 25, 1840.

Essex County Teachers’ Association.

The eleventh Annual Meeting of this Association will be held
at the Academy building in Topsfield, on Friday and Saturday,
the 16th and 17th days of October. Lectures on subjects inti-
mately connected with school instruction will be delivered by
the Rev. Mr. Train, of Haverhill, — by the Hon. David Choate ,
of Essex, — by Mr. Wells , of the Teachers’ Seminary in Andover,
— by the Rev. Alonzo Gray , of Andover, — and by Benjamin
Greenleaf, Esq. Principal of Bradford Academy. At a recent
meeting of the officers of the above Association, the following
resolve was passed :

Resolved , That the School Committees of the several towns in
the County be respectfully requested to urge upon the teachers
'of their Schools the importance of attending the meetings of the
Association and allow them the requisite time for doing the same.

Salem Gazette , October 13, 1840.

TOPSFIELD.

There will be a Political Address delivered before the Whigs
of Topsfield, on THURSDAY EVENING by J. C. Perkins
Esq. of Salem.

Salem Gazette , October 27, 1840.

TOPSFIELD.

A political Address will be delivered on THURSDAY EVEN-
ING next, by Jonathan C. Perkins, Esq., of Salem, at Rev.

112 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD

Mr. McEwen’s Meeting house, at 6 1-2 o’clock. Citizens generally
are invited to attend.

Salem Gazette, November 3, 1840.

In the Nov. 13, 1840, issue of the Salem Gazette, is printed a
list of the officers of the Essex County Teacher’s Association,
among whom were Joseph C. Batchelder, Topsfield, Librarian
and Cabinet Keeper , and Asa Farwell, Topsfield, Councillor.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY. The winter term in this institu-
tion, will commence on the first Wednesday of December.
Instruction will be given as heretofore, to pupils of both sexes
in the different branches of study comprized in a complete Eng-
lish and Classical education.

References to Gen. Nathaniel Perley, William Munday, Esq.,
and Rev. Jas. McEwen.

Topsfield, Nov. 13.

Salem Gazette , November 20, 1840.

[In the return of votes for President, in the County of Essex,
108 were cast for the abolition candidate of which 19 were in
Topsfield.]

Salem Gazette , November 20, 1840.

Topsfield, Nov. 21, 1840.

Mr. Editor — Dear Sir — I saw it stated in your paper of yes-
terday, that nineteen votes were cast in this town for the
Abolition Ticket. This is a mistake, and I hope you will correct
it, that the impression may not go abroad that we have nineteen
voters in this town who are so infatuated as to go hand in hand
with that political party. There was but one amalgamation
ticket cast in this town. a. b.

Salem Gazette , November 26, 1840.

HUMANITY.

A gentleman with a pung and two horses, from Topsfield, was
driving down Essex St. last Saturday afternoon, and ran on a
lady, rising eighty years of age and quite deaf, knocked her
down, broke her collarbone, and otherwise injured her. People
passing immediately ran to her rescue and drew her from under
the horses’ feet. The said gentleman did not get out of his
sleigh, but merely as a matter of favor stopped his horses long
enough for the old lady to be drawn from under them. Should

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 1 IB

this meet the eye of this pink of humanity, he is informed that
unless he should in the course of this week call upon the injured
person, who is very poor, and make her condition as comfortable
as circumstances will permit, he may expect to be called on in
a more formal way. Should the person who committed this
outrage say in excuse that he does not know where the injured
person lives, all he has to do is to inquire in the neighborhood
where the act was committed, and in case his memory does not
serve him to know the place, he can call on the printer, who
will give him the necessary information, also the name of the
writer of this piece, if required. m.

Salem Gazette , December 22, 1840.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY. This School is now open for the
reception of young Ladies and Gentlemen, W. F. Kent, Princi-
pal. Instruction will be given in all the branches of an English
and Classical Education.

References — Gen. N. Perley, Rev. Messrs. McEwen, and
Griffin, Topsfield; Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Boxford; Rev. Mr.
Mansfield, Wenham ; Rev. Mr. Braman, Georgetown ; Col. Jesse
Putnam and J. W. Proctor, Esq., Danvers ; A. Huntington, Esq.
and Col. H. Whipple, Salem ; S. B. Ives and G. Brownell, Esq.
of Boston.

Dec. 15,1840.

Salem Gazette , December 25, 1840.

Richard Phillips, Jr., of Topsfield, has been appointed by
the Governor and Council, one of the Coroners for the county of
Essex.

Salem Gazette , Mar. 19, 1841.

NEW ARRANGEMENT.

Haverhill and Concord Stage
[Woodcut of stage coach]

The Haverhill and Concord Stage, on and after this day, will
leave Salem, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 o’clock
A. M., or soon after the arrival of the cars from Boston and
Marblehead.

This stage intersects with the line for Derry and Manchester,
N. H. at Haverhill.

Seats taken in Salem at the Essex House.

J. PINKHAM.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 8, 1841.

114 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

ESSEX COUNTY TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION.

O^g^The Eleventh Semi- annual Meeting of the “ Essex County
Teachers’ Association,” will be held at Topsfield Academy, on
Friday, the 30th inst. and the day following.

On Friday, lectures may be expected from Rev. C. C. Sewall
of Danvers ; Rev. E. A. Lawrence of Haverhill ; Mr. T. D. P.
Stone of Andover Female Seminary, and Rev. G. B. Perry of
Bradford.

On Saturday, from Rev. A. Fitz of Ipswich, and Thomas B.
West, Esq. of Beverly Academy.

The first Lecture will be at 10 o’clock, Friday, A. M.

Teachers and the friends of Education generally, are respect-
fully invited to attend.

CHARLES NORTHEND, Sec.

Danvers, April 27, 1841.

Salem Gazette, Apr. 27, 1841.

William E. Kimball, Esq. has been appointed postmaster
of Topsfield, in place of Edward Hood, Esq.

Salem Gazette , May 4, 1841.

[Sylvester Cummings, guardian of Samuel Hood, jr. (a person
non compos mentis) of Topsfield, married, petitioned the Pro-
bate Court for authority to sell certain real estate located in
Topsfield and Middleton.]

Salem Gazette , May 4, 1841.

FOR THE SALEM GAZETTE.

At a meeting of the Essex County Teachers’ Association, held
in Topsfield last week, immediately after the first lecture, by
Mr. Stone, of Andover, the following vote was passed, moved by
Mr. Putnam of Salem, and seconded by Mr. Stone, of Andover.

Voted , “That the association immediately adjourn to a private
room in the Hotel, for the purpose of free discussion among our-
selves, and that all those who consider themselves members, and
ladies that are teachers, be invited to be present.”

The policy of such a vote may justly be questioned. In the
public notice of the meeting of the association,

“ Teachers and the friends of Education generally are respect-
fully invited to attend.”

Similar invitations have been uniformly given in previous no-
tices of meetings, and the people of Topsfield and neighborhood
have improved the opportunity of listening to the lectures and
discussions which have been had.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 115

I, for one, have been entertained and instructed, and attended
this time under this general invitation, and it was matter of re-
gret to be thus unexpectedly deprived of the privilege of hearing
the discussions, which are thought by many to be as interesting
as the lectures. They lay open and explain the subject of the
lecture more fully, and elicit additional remarks from the lec-
turer.

The audience have generally heretofore been invited to take a
part in these discussions, and I have now and then myself
thrown in a remark. I have always had great respect for the
association, have aided and assisted, in various ways, in promot-
ing the objects of the association. I think these meetings of
teachers very profitable to themselves and the public, and should
much regret that anything should be done, which would go to
lessen their usefulness or popularity.

Again, the idea of adjourning to a private room, and inviting
female teachers, might not suit the tastes of all classes, and in
such a hasty vote I presume the association has not maturely
considered the bearing of such a movement. I presume they
did not have many ladies attend their discussions in private
apartments.

The only reason I heard given, was that they did not want all
their “ little peccadillos made public.” But it is no matter how
many faults are made known, if they are willing to correct them ;
besides, their perfections, which we are willing to much more
abound, would be as much kept from the public as their imper-
fections.

Considering myself a friend of education, and to the associa-
tion, I have been induced to make these remarks for the consid-
eration of all concerned.

Topsfield, May 6, 1841.

Salem Gazette , May 14, 1841.
NOTICE.

MR. JOHNSON, of Boston, a reformed inebriate, will lecture
on Temperance, in the Methodist meeting house, in Topsfield,
TOMORROW EVENING, at 7 1-2 o’clock. He will also lec-
ture in the Old Meeting House, on Sabbath evening. He will
relate the experiences of 18 years of extreme drunkenness, and
the sufferings of himself and his family, during that period.

Topsfield, May 14.

Salem Gazette , May 14, 1841.

116 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

TOPSFIELD HOTEL.

FOR SALE OR TO BE LET. Eor sale or to be let that
spacious House, situated on the Newbury port Turnpike, known
as the Topsfield Hotel. It is situated on the main road from
Boston, 21 miles ; from Salem 9 miles ; from Haverhill, 12 1-2,
and from Newbury port 12 miles.

The House is elevated, and is one of the pleasantest situations
for a summer residence that can be found, being very airy. The
House is three stories high, has a fine hall, and was built ex-
pressly for a Public House. Adjoining is a large Stable, suffi-
cient to accomodate 50 or 60 horses over night — together with
large Wood Sheds and other out buildings. There are about
three acres of first rate Land, on which is about 100 grafted
Pruit Trees of selected fruit. One of the finest wells of water,
together with an aqueduct that never fails of water.

Any person desirous of a Public House, will find the above
one of the finest in the country.

For further information apply to SOLOMON WILDES or
MOSES WILDES, No. 11 Elm street, Boston.

N. B. The above Hotel is well calculated for Boarders, and
in the summer months has been filled with the same. Posses-
sion will be given immediately, as the House is now vacated.

Topsfield, June 1, 1841.

Salem Gazette , June 1, 1841.

TOPSFIELD.

There is to be a celebration on Monday in Topsfield, upon
temperance principles. A procession will be formed, and an
address delivered by MR. KENT, Preceptor of the Academy,
after which the company will partake of a dinner.

Salem Gazette , July 2, 1841.

Wednesday afternoon. It had been preceded by intense heat
on that day and Tuesday. About 2 o’clock, there were indica-
tions of the gradual approach of a thunder shower ; but the tem-
pest, which burst upon us, soon after three o’clock, proceeded
from a lower stratum of clouds, which travelled with a degree of
swiftness rarely witnessed. Volumes of dust, leaves, branches,
and every other light article exposed to its power, instantly filled
the air. Many large trees were broken off, others were torn up
by the roots, and numerous barns, and other buildings present-
ing a large surface and of light frames, were overthrown. The
first blast was almost instantly followed by torrents of rain, with
heavy thunder.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 117

In Topsfield there was a perfect tornado, a sort of young ty-
phoon. In the south part of the town several barns were blown
down. One, belonging to a Mr. Gifford, was demolished while
he and his two sons were in it. Mr. G. was severely hurt, and
one of the sons was injured by a blow upon his head from a fall-
ing timber. Some of the hail stones which fell in Topsfield in
the afternoon measured, we are informed, six and a half inches
in circumference. Much of the glass in the west and southwest
parts of the houses upon and near the Hill was broken. In the
Valley the damage to the glass was slight, as the wind has sub-
sided in that quarter before the hail fell. They had another
thunder shower in the evening, when hail stones fell, some of
which measured four and a half inches in circumference.

A large number of fruit trees were blown down, and many
fields of corn and potatoes were seriously injured by the hail in
the several places over which the storm passed. On the road
from Topsfield to Danvers Plains, trees were prostrated in great
numbers. A sound oak, a foot in diameter, was literally twisted
off a short distance from the ground, and the bark peeled almost
entirely from the trunk.

Salem Gazette, July 2, 1841.

Independence in Topsfield. The anniversary of independ-
ence was celebrated at Topsfield in a very agreeable manner. A
procession of gentlemen was formed near the Academy, and
moved under the direction of Joel Lake, Esq., chief marshal, to
the meetinghouse, where they were joined by the ladies and
children, and thence proceeded to a grove near the village. An
eloquent oration was delivered by William F. Kent, Esq., and
after the oration the company partook of an excellent repast,
prepared by the ladies of Topsfield. Maj. Nathaniel Conant was
president of the day, assisted, at the table, by C. A. Holmes, and
John Wright, Esqs. In the afternoon, the children of the Cold
Water Army were addressed by Rev. J. Humphrey Avery, of
Danvers.

Salem Gazette , July 13, 1841.
TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The fall term of this institution will commence WEDNES-
DAY, Aug. 18th. The School will be under the care of the
former Principal, Mr. Asa Fakwell, A. B., in whose qualifica-
tions and success as an instructor of youth, the friends of the
Institution have the fullest confidence.

118 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Particular attention will be devoted to those who are prepar-
ing to become Teachers ; and no efforts will be spared on the part
of the Principal in endeavoring to give perfect satisfaction to all
who may patronize the School.

Tuition in the English Branches, $5, per quarter,

“ “ Languages, $6, do.

Board in respectable families near the Academy may be had
on reasonable terms.

B. P. ADAMS,

Topsfield, July 30. Secretary.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 3, 1841.

MILITARY.

A grand military exhibition is expected in this city to-day,
when 20 companies, being all the independent corps in the county,
excepting the Cadets, will be assembled on the common, under
command of Brig. Gen. Sutton.

The Topsfield, Boxford and Bradford companies marched into
town yesterday afternoon, and pitched their tents on the com-
mon. They were accompanied by the Methuen and Haverhill
Bands.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 17, 1841.

MILITARY.

The Parade of Gen. Sutton’s Brigade took place on Friday
last, on Salem Common.

* * * *

The Topsfield, Boxford and Bradford companies remained in
their encampments during Friday night, and left for home on
Saturday. The Topsfield and Boxford companies visited the
Museum on Saturday morning. The Boxford Guards paraded
in a very neat and comfortable undress uniform, on Friday even-
ing, and attracted much notice by their unique appearance.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 21, 1841.

At a meeting of the Topsfield Warren Blues held at their Ar-
mory, Sept. 18th, the following votes were passed : —

Voted , That the thanks of this corps be tendered to the Salem
Light Infantry for the generous invitation extended to us of vis-
iting the East India Marine Museum.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 119

Voted, That the thanks of this Company be presented to the
Salem Mechanic Light Infantry, for their generosity in proffer-
ing to us the use of their Armory, on the evening of the 17th
inst., and also for refreshments on the same occasion.

A. S. PEABODY,

Clerk.

Topsfield, Sept. 21, 1841.

Salem Gazette, Sept. 21, 1841.

A CARD.

Armory of the Boxford Washington )
Guards, Saturday Evening, Sept. 18. )

Voted , That the thanks of the Company be presented to the
Officers of the Topsfield Warren Blues for refreshments received
of them on our late canpaign, at the Village Hotel, in Topsfield,
on Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 16th and 18th.

JAMES REASON,

Clerk of the B. W. G.

Boxford, Sept. 21, 1841.

Salem Gazette, Sept. 21, 1841.

TEACHER’S ASSOCIATION.

The twelfth annual meeting of the Essex County Teachers
association will be held at the Academy in Topsfield on Friday
and Saturday 15th and 16th inst.

The exercises will commence on Friday, at 10 o’clock A. M.,
with a lecture by Rev. G. B. Perry of Bradford.

On Saturday, A. M., Cornelius Walker, Esq., and Hon. Horace
Mann, of Boston, will lecture before the Association.

Arrangements have been made by which the annual meeting
of the “ Common School Convention ” for Essex County will be
held at the same place on Friday. This meeting will be organ-
ized at 11 1-2 o’clock, A. M., under the direction of the Secretary
of the Board of Education, who will deliver an address at 2
o’clock P. M. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will
be occupied by the discussion of subjects of interest to the friends
of popular education.

CHARLES NORTHEND, Sec’y of Co. Asso.

Salem, Oct. 5, 1841.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 5, 1841.

120 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Essex County Education Convention is held at Tops-
field this forenoon. We trust it will escape the imputation,
which it has deserved at some former times, of being the least
well attended of all the series of County Conventions in this
State.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 15, 1841.
TEACHERS’ MEETING.

The annual meeting of the “ Essex County Teachers’ Associa-
tion ” was held at Topsfield on Friday and Saturday of last
week, and on the former day the annual “ Common School Con-
vention ” for the County, was held. These meetings were well
attended, and the exercises were highly interesting, appropriate
and instructive.

On Friday, A. M., Rev. Mr. Perry, of Bradford, gave an inter-
esting lecture on the best means of preventing profaneness and
immorality of pupils. Mr. Perry has for many years taken an
active part in every movement whose object was the improve-
ment of our schools or the general diffusion of knowledge, and
probably no man in the county has labored more zealously or
successfully. His remarks are always of that common sense,
practical nature which are well and profitably received.

After listening to the lecture of Mr. Perry, the Association
adjourned till Saturday morning, in order that the * Common
School Convention ' might be organized, which was done by the
appointment of Rev. Lyman Coleman, of Andover, Chairman,
and Edwin Josselyn, Esq., of Salem, Secretary.

In the afternoon, the Convention was addressed by Hon.
Horace Mann, Secretary of the Board of Education. It would
be in vain to attempt a description of this address. Like all
former performances of the kind which we have listened to from
this gentleman, this was characterized by a vividness and healthy
expression, force and clearness of thought, and soul-stirring
effect, that can only be properly estimated by an actual hearer.
Mr. Mann brings his whole soul to the great work in which he
is engaged, and by his untiring industry and devotion he per-
forms an almost incredible amount of labor — and we think that
to his efforts many a child is indebted for the great improve-
ments which have been made in the convenience, pleasantness
and comfort of school rooms. Mr. M.’s address was followed by
animated and interesting discussions.

On Saturday, the exercises before the Teachers’ Association
were lectures from Cornelius Walker, Esq., of Boston, and from

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 121

Hon. H. Mann, the former on reading and the latter on spelling.
Neither time nor space would allow a synopsis of these lectures.
Suffice it to say that they were listened to with much interest by
the audience.

The attendance throughout these meetings was very respect-
able, and on no occasion have we seen a collectioD of female
teachers so large, and apparently so intelligent, and of this num-
ber Salem could claim a very fair proportion.

The Essex County Teachers’ Association has been in existence
twelve years, and we rejoice in its brightening prospects of use-
fulness, and we hope to see the day when meetings like these,
for the improvement of our schools and teachers, shall excite at
least as much interest in our community as do our ‘ Mechanic
Fairs,’ 1 Cattle Shows,’ and other conventions or associations.
And when we see such men as the Hon. Messrs. Phillips and
Mann contributing their influence, as on this occasion, to encour-
age and sustain teachers’ associations, we may well think that a
“ better day is dawning.”

N.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 19, 1841.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY. The winter term of this Institu-
tion will commence on Wednesday, December 1st, and continue
IT weeks. — The School will be under the charge of Mr. Edmund
F. Slafter, A. B., whose qualifications and experience in teach-
ing may be regarded as a pledge, that a thorough and efficient
course of instruction will be pursued, and that none will be dis-
appointed who may place their children under his care.

Tuition in the English Branches $5 per quarter
“ “ Languages $6 “ “

Board in respectable families, near the Academy, may be had
for $1.50 to $2.00 per week.

B. P. Adams, Secretary.

Topsfield, Nov. 12.

Salem Gazette , Nov. 16, 1841.

Topsfield. — Richard Phillips, jr., Esq., has been appointed
Postmaster of Topsfield.

Salem Gazettey Dec. 14, 1841.

Seventy-nine persons signed a call for a State convention of
dealers and manufacturers engaged in the boot, shoe, and leather
business to consider impending changes in the tariff on leather
fabrics. Among them were Richard Phillips and Charles Her-
rick of Topsfield.

Salem Gazette, Feb. 18, 1842.

122 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Topsfield, Feb. 24, 1842.

Mr. Editor , — At a meeting of the Manufacturers and Opera-
tives of Topsfield, engaged in the Shoe and Leather business,
holden at the Centre School Room, on Wednesday evening, Feb.
23, 1842, for the purpose of selecting a list of Delegates to the
Convention to assemble at Boston, on Wednesday the second day
of March next.

The meeting was called to order by R. Phillips, Jr., and Nath.
Conant was chosen Chairmain, and H. D. Merriam, Secretary.

The following gentlemen were selected to cooperate with their
friends in the trade from other parts of the State.

Erastus Clark,

G. Hubbard,

Charles Herrick,

Benj. Kimball,

R. Phillips, Jr.,

John Wright,

Zaccheus Gould,

J. L. Gould,

Josiah Bradstreet,

H. A. Merriam,

Joel Lake,

Humphrey Balch,

Wm. G. Lake,

E. S. Bixby,

Nath. Conant,

E. G. Town,

Eben. Eastman,

B. C. Perkins,

Samuel Janes,

E. Lake, Jr.,

R. Phillips,

L. H. Gould,

B. P. Adams,

Thos. Gould,

Nath. Perkins, Jr.,

L. K. Chapman,

T. L. Lane,
Fred. Stiles,

Adam Wellman,

L. H. Coll,

A. S. Peabody,
Amos Perkins, Jr.

Andrews Gould,

That a committee be chosen

to procure statistics rela-

tive to the trade in this town.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 25, 1842.

Bankrupt Applicants, in Essex County.

Topsfield — Joseph W. Batchelder, Joel Lake, Silas Lake, Wm.
C. Lake, Isaiah M. Small,

Salem Gazette , Mar. 1, 1842.

Applications for Bankruptcy , in Essex County.

Topsfield , — Thomas Averill, Abraham Balch, Samuel Janes,
John Perley.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 29, 1842.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 123

Died. In Rumford, Maine, on the 21st inst., Rev. Daniel
Gould, in the 90th year of his age. He was born at Topsfield,
Mass., in 1752, and has relatives now living there. He was pur-
suing his studies, at “ Dummer Academy,” in Newbury, at the
commencement of the Revolutionary war. But he, obeying the
call of his country, went into its service at the commencement
and continued there nearly two years. He and his brother Sam-
uel were in a company of Guards under Maj. Gen. Lee. Upon
leaving, he completed his studies at Harvard University, in
Cambridge, where he was graduated in the year 1782. He then
commenced the study of Divinity , and has, for the most of the
time since, been a Minister of the gospel.

Salem Gazette , May 31, 1842.

OP About $175 were collected at the Fair, held by the ladies
of Topsfield, on the 4th inst., for the purpose of raising funds to
defray the expense of dressing a new church, to be erected the
present season by the Congregational Society.

Salem Gazette , July 12, 1842.

Died. In Irondequoit, N. Y., on Saturday afternoon, 30th
ult. Dea. Samuel Bradstreet, formerly of Topsfield, Mass.,
aged 52. He dropped down in a fit near the door of his dwell-
ing and immediately expired. He was in the enjoyment of his
usual good health, but thus, in a moment, struck down and his
early career terminated.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 23, 1842.

Died. In Topsfield, 12th inst. Mr. William P. Cummings,
aged 24. Seldom is it that the grave closes over the remains of
one more deeply lamented than the object of this obituary notice.
Attached to this world by every tie that can render it dear, and
at an age when ardent and cherished hopes held out every pros-
pect of a long and happy life, he was suddenly called, after a
short and painful illness of one week, to take a last farewell of
earthly friends, and go and dwell with the blessed spirits above.

Salem Gazette , August 26, 1842.

The Brigade Review at Lynn yesterday, but for the unpro-
pitious weather, would have been one of the most beautiful pa-
rades ever had in this quarter, * * * Some of the compan-

ies remained on the field last night, but the Topsfield Warren
Blues passed through this city, on their way home this morning.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 16, 1842.

124 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Accident in Topsfield. On Saturday last, a carpenter, by
the name of Brian t, was seriously injured by a fall from the
staging at the eaves of the new meeting house, in Topsfield.
One of the boards of the staging was of insufficient strength, and
broke with his weight when he stepped upon it.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 20, 1842.

A CABD.

The Topsfield Warren Blues tender their thanks to the officers
and members of the Lynn Bifle Corps for a sumptuous collation,
of which they were cordially welcomed to partake, on the even-
ing of the 14th. Also, to the citizens of Lynn for their kind-
ness in providing lodgings, &c., for us while there.

Also, to the citizens of Danvers Plains, for a collation on their
return.

Also, to the Manchester Brass Band, for their services and
disposition to please during their campaign.

A. PEBKINS, Jr., Clerk pro tern.

Topsfield, Sept. 20, 1842.

Salem Gazette , Sept . 23, 1842.

Died. In Topsfield, 22 inst., Mr. Joshua Towne, aged 87, a
soldier of the Bevolution.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 27, 1842.

Died. In Topsfield, on Saturday afternoon, after a long and
distressing illness, Mr. William Preston Dodge, aged 32.

In the death of this worthy man, his family and the commun-
ity in which he lived have sustained an irreparable loss. With
a disposition uniformly mild, amiable and conciliating, and
which prompted to unwearied diligence in “ doing good,” and
with a character distinguished for all those graces which adorn
the life of a Christian, Mr. Dodge not only enjoyed the confidence
of his associates, but contributed in no small degree to their hap-
piness. To all who have enjoyed his society his memory will be
precious ; — and, while they experience a high sense of satisfac-
tion in reflecting upon the goodness of his character, may they
feel disposed to follow in his footsteps, and to emulate his vir-
tues.

The numerous circle of relatives and friends who are mourn-
ing this afflicting and mysterious dispensation of Providence,
may find much consolation in the promises which the Gospel so
richly affords. They mourn not as those without hope ; — for
while they remember the life of faithful piety which character-

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 125

ized the departed, they will rejoice in the assurance, that;he^is
now removed from the sources of all his former afflictions, ’ to
that world where

“ Sickness and sorrow, pain and death
Are felt and feared no more.” — Com.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 11, 1842.

[Asa Pingree of Topsfield was nominated as a candidate for
Senator, at a Locofoco Convention held at Ipswich on Oct. 12,
1842.]

Salem Gazette, October 14, 1842.

Fire in Topsfield. We learn from a correspondent in Tops-
field, that the dwelling house of Mr. Cyrus Webster caught fire
on Sunday night last, but by the prompt and energetic exertions of
Mr. Samuel Janes, and other neighbors, the flames were arrested
and the house saved, with a loss of about fifty dollars damage.
Had the fire been discovered five minutes later, the house, barn,
sheds, &c., must have been destroyed, and the new meeting
house, which is in progress of erection, and other buildings in
this vicinity, would have been in imminent danger as the wind
blew strong from the Northwest.

Salem Register , Oct. 20, 1842.

Died. In Boston, on the 22d ult. at the residence of her son-
in-law (Mr. Brownell), where she had gone in feeble health to
spend the months of the coming winter, Mrs. Buth B. Emer-
son, widow of the late Mr. Billy Emerson, of Topsfield, at the
advanced age of 75 years. In recording this brief memento to
departed worth, it may justly be said, she served her generation
by the will of God, and fell asleep, and has left a numerous
circle of relatives in tears. Various were the relations she sus-
tained in life and sedulously did she discharge the obligations
consequent on those relations. The poor have lost a ready
friend, the benevolent enterprises of the day a cheerful patron,
the community a worthy citizen, and the church of God an hon-
ored member. Her life being eminently righteous, her death, as
might be expected, was peaceful as the setting sun.

Servant of God, farewell ! farewell !

Thy battle’s fought, thy prize is won ;

This be our consolation — all is well. — [Com.]

Salem Gazette , Nov. 1, 1842.

Died. In Topsfield, Mrs. Irena Hubbard, wife of Mr. Hum-
phrey A. Hubbard, aged about 40 years. This is a new affliction

126 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

in that series by which Mr. Hubbard’s family has been recently
visited in quick succession. — Last August in the space of one
week, three promising children, all he had, were laid in the
grave. In a few days, Mrs. Averill, the mother of Mrs. Hubbard,
followed. The health of Mrs. Hubbard has ever been delicate,
but now commenced a gradual decline which terminated her life.

She was naturally of an amiable, retiring disposition and anx-
ious to deserve the respect and esteem of her acquaintance. But
in her domestic relations, her excellence was more peculiarly
developed. Few mothers were more affectionate and devoted,
few wives more kind and attentive. Her delight was in her
home, her happiness in the welfare of her family. Her death
has macle that home desolate. But her husband, though bereft
of children and wife, is not compelled to sorrow as those who
have no hope. His departed companion had for many years
been a member of the church of Christ and there is reason to
believe, a humble follower of the Redeemer. Her recent trials
served to prepare her for death, and they may also have served
to hasten the event. She rests, we trust, where sickness never
invades ; tears are never shed ; and parting sighs are never ut-
tered.

Salmi Gazette, Nov. 29, 1842.

Concert in Topsfield. We have seen the programme of a
Concert of Sacred Music to be given in Topsfield on Wednesday
evening, 22d inst. The selections are from many of the best
authors, and from what we know of the abilities of some of the
performers we do not hesitate to assure our Topsfield friends
that a rich treat is in store for them. The Concert is to be under
the direction of Messrs. Moses Sears and Wm. R. Hubbard.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 21, 1843.

Dedication. The new Meeting House recently erected by
the Congregational Parish, in Topsfield, will be dedicated on
Wednesday, 22d inst. Sermon by Rev. Mr. McLoud, the Pastor.
Services to commence at 2 o’clock, P. M.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 21, 1843.

DEDICATION IN TOPSFIELD.

The new meeting house recently erected by the Congregational
parish in Topsfield was dedicated on Wednesday last. The
services, which were highly interesting and impressive, were as
follows :

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 127

Anthem — “ Glory be to God on high.” Invocation, and Bead-
ing of Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Boxford.

Anthem — “ The Great Jehovah is our awful theme.”

Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Fitz, of Ipswich.

Original Hymn.

Sermon, by Rev. Mr. McLoud, pastor of the church.

Dedicatory Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Braman, Georgetown.

Original Hymn. Doxology. Benediction.

The sermon was from 95th Psalm, 6th and 7th verses. The
preacher delineated in a forcible manner the duty of a regular
and conscientious attendance upon the public social worship of
God, and portrayed some of the many moral and spiritual privi-
ledges and advantages which those are sure to realize who go up
to the House of the Lord in company, and who are careful to
discharge the obligations, which attach to every community, to
maintain public worship and to give at least one day in the
week to the assembling themselves together,

“ To hear of Jesus and of Heaven.”

One remark of the preacher, however well it may apply to his
own parish, would not be less opportune in many other churches.
The hint so pointedly conveyed might be observed with profit by
the members of other congregations than those widely scattered
over country towns. He said that in the old house the atten-
dance had been generally good, nevertheless there were always
some spare seats , in which many more worshippers could be
accommodated. He hoped it would not be so in future, but
that in respect to the attendance of the people of the parish,
“ the glory of this latter house would exceed that of the former.”

The discourse was a plain, practical, common sense produc-
tion, creditable to both the head and heart of the preacher.
If it be duly appreciated by those who heard it, much good will
be the result.

The musical performances, under the direction of Messrs. W.
R. Hubbard and M. Sears, were excellent, and peculiarly appro-
priate to the occasion.

The house stands upon the spot which the old one occupied,
and is a neat, commodious and comfortable place of worship.
The style of the finish and decoration, particularly of its inte-
rior, combines the simple and the beautiful in a very pleasing
manner.

Salem Gazette, Feb. 24, 1843.

The editor of the Bangor Whig gives the following account of
his visit to our little city :

128 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Salem, Aug. 12, 1843.

[Here follows some account of Salem.]

Here is Pinkham’s stage at the door and as he never loses a
trip, or meets with an accident, or neglects an errand, we would
not fail, on any account, taking passage with him. Here we go,
tanners and curriers, wool pullers and shoemakers must be
vastly in the majority if their places of business is any sort of
an indication. We have passed the quaker yellow buildings pe-
culiar to Danvers, and are now fairly out into the country, and
how grand it is. These old oaks and wide spreading elms with
their portly bodies, how venerable and strong they appear. The
corn and onions in what abundance they are cultivated and how
rank they grow.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 22, 1843.

Died. In Topsfield, Mr. Choate Dwinnell, aged 35 — found
dead in his bed. A Topsfield correspondent says : “ His death

was the effect of intoxication. A quantity of liquor was found
in his room after his death ; and, as no person in this town sells
ardent spirits, the strong presumption is that this man procured
the means of self destruction in your city.”

Salem Gazette , Sept. 22, 1843.

|y Hon. Asa Pingree, of Topsfield, declines being a candi-
date for re-election to our State Senate.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 3, 1343.

Died. In Topsfield, on the 10th inst., Mr. Samuel Hood,
aged 81 years. He was a soldier in the war of the Devolution
— and for many years after he was a distinguished mechanic in
this city. The funeral will be on Wednesday, at 1 o’clock.
Friends and relatives are requested to attend.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 12, 1843.

Died. In Topsfield, on Saturday evening, Mr. Timothy
Ross, aged 92 years and 6 months. He was actively engaged in
the scenes of the Revolution and took part in several battles,
among which were those of Trenton, Brooklyn and Bunker Hill.
[Papers in Maine and New Hampshire please copy.]

Salem Gazette , Jan. 16, 1844.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 129

Wood cut VALUABLE FARM

House. IN TOPSFIED.

The subscriber offers for sale, his Farm in Topsfield, formerly
the estate of the late Billy Emerson. Said Farm contains about
thirty five acres, nearly all of which is first rate Grass Land.
Also — a large, square, three story House in good repair ; a beau-
tiful garden, with choice Fruit and Ornamental Trees, a large
Barn, Wood and Carriage House ; two wells of excellent water,
and other conveniences.

The above is one of the most desirable situations in the County
of Essex, being beautifully situated in the immediate vicinity of
a most enterprising and thrifty population ; only nine miles
from Salem, twelve from New bury port and Haverhill; within a
few rods of the new Congregational and Methodist Churches,
and but a short distance from the Academy and Town Schools.

The premises can be examined and further information ob-
tained of Richard Phillips, Jr., Charles H. Holmes, or
Wm. Cleveland, Esqs., of Topsfield, or

GILBERT BROWNELL,

No. 94 Washington Street, Boston.

Salem Gazette , Jan . 30, 1844.

BRANCH RAILROAD.

An intelligent correspondent gives us the following memo-
randa, to show the advantages of a branch Railroad from George-
town, to connect with the Eastern Railroad :

A route for a Railroad has been surveyed from Georgetown to
Bradford, to connect with the upper route to Boston. One route
has been surveyed from Georgetown to Ipswich, or old Rowley.
A route from Georgetown, through Topsfield and North and
South Danvers, would be a feasible route, and one which would
pay a handsome profit ; and it would accommodate the public
much better than any other. The Georgetown people would get
to Boston with some 3 or 4 miles less travel than by the upper
route. The freight and passenger money would, from George-
town, amount to $12,000 ; from West Newbury, 3 or $4000;
Topsfield, $3000 ; North Danvers, from 8 to $12,000; South
Danvers, probably 12 or $14,000. It would be the route of
shoe buyers from Lynn to Georgetown and S. Haverhill ;
would take the Southern travel which now goes on the upper
route, and could be made cheap, as the route would be a very
level one.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 2, 1844.

130 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

EAIL EOAD MEETING.

A numerously attended meeting of the citizens of North and
South Danvers was held at Union Hall, in South Danvers, on
Friday Evening, February 2d, to take into consideration the
project of constructing a Eailroad from Georgetown through the
towns of Topsfield and Danvers, to intersect with the Eastern
Eailroad at Salem. A number of influential citizens from Tops-
field were present.

The meeting was called to order by Elias Putnam, Esq., of
North Danvers, and organized by the choice of Dr. Andrew
Nichols as Chairman, and W. L. Weston, Secretary.

The objects of the meeting were briefly stated by the chair-
man, who was followed by John W. Proctor and Elias Putnam,
Esqs., who set forth the advantages to be derived from such a road.

J. W. Proctor, Dr. Osborn, Elias Putnam, Samuel Preston, of
Danvers, and John Wright, of Topsfield, were appointed a com-
mittee to prepare resolutions to be laid before the meeting. In
the absence of the committee, the meeting was addressed in a
spirited manner by Dr. Merriam and B. P. Adams, Esq., of
Topsfield. They stated that they had conferred with a number
of the leading citizens of Georgetown, who expressed them-
selves warmly in favor of the enterprise, — they had estimated
that their business would pay from 12 to $14,000 a year. Henry
Poor of Danvers spoke of the business of South Danvers, and
thought the amount would exceed that of Georgetown, and that
his place would be benefited quite as much as any other of the
places through which the road is proposed to pass ; he could
mention individuals whose freight bill alone would amount to 3
or $400. Mr. Phillips of Topsfield thought the business of his
place would exceed $3000.

[Eesolutions summarizing the intent of the meeting were
adopted.]

Salem Gazette , Feb. 6, 1844.

Georgetown, Topsfield and Danvers Eailroad. A sur-
vey of this route is now being made, by Mr. Frederick W.
Lander, engineer, of Danvers. The survey will be completed
in a few days.

Salem Gazette , Feb. 13, 1844.

[On Feb. 14, 1844, Mr. Brackett, representative from Tops-
field, presented to the Legislature, a petition from Samuel
Adams and others, for the construction of a fishway through
Farley’s dam [Willowdale], on Ipswich river.]

Salem Gazette , Feb. 16, 1844.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 131

Valuable Real Estate in Topsfield — at Auction .

By order of the Probate Court on TUESDAY, the second
day of April next, at 10 o’clock, A. M., will be sold at Public
Auction, in the town of Topsfield, on the premises hereafter
described, for the purpose of raising the sum of fifteen hun-
dred dollars to pay debts and charges of administration upon
the estate of Isaac Killam , late of Topsfield, deceased, the fol-
lowing described parcels of Real Estate.

Woodcut The Homestead and Farm of said Isaac Killam ,
House consisting of the House and other buildings, and
about 65 acres of land connected therewith, and lying on the
north and south sides of the highway leading to Boxford — being
mowing, tillage, pasture and meadow land — about three-fourths
of a mile from Topsfield meeting-house, and on said Boxford
road. Also, a Wood Lot in Boxford, about five acres, well
wooded, and bounded by Oliver Peabody, Thomas Averill and
others. Also, three and one half acres of River Meadow in
Topsfield, bounded by the highway and near Rowley bridge on
the east. Also, one acre of Brook Meadow, in said Topsfield,
bounded by land of Josiah L. Gould, Foster, Allen Gould, and
others. Also, three quarters of an acre of Peat Meadow, in said
Topsfield, called the Gould Meadow.

Or so much of the above premises, beginning with the House
and Buildings and land connected therewith, on the northerly
side of the road aforesaid, as will raise the aforesaid sum of
fifteen hundred dollars. Terms made known at the time of the
sale. By order

ASAHEL HUNTINGTON, Adm’r.

WM. G. LAKE, Auct.

Topsfield, March 11.

Salem Gazette , Mar. 12, 1844.

[The Convention to nominate County Commissioners was held
at the Village Hotel in Topsfield on Wednesday, Mar. 27, 1844,
Asa Wildes, of Newburyport (born in Topsfield), headed the
list.]

Salem Gazette , Mar. 29, 1844.

fi^The “ Report of the Topsfield School Committee ” from the
pen of R. Phillips, jr., Esq., is of uncommon interest.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 5, 1844.

132 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The Spring Term of this Institution will commence on
THURSDAY, April 18, and continue eleven weeks.

Tuition — English branches — $4.00

Languages, $5.00

Board in good families, $1.25 to $1.75.

Per order of Committee.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 16, 1844.

AT AUCTION IN TOPSFIELD.

On THURSDAY, the 18th of April current, at 3 o’clock, P. M.,
will be sold, at the store of B. P. Adams,

Woodcut The following Real Estate, belonging to the estate
of of Frederick Perley, an insolvent, viz.

House.

The right to redeem the following Lots of Land, with the
buildings thereon, viz :

One building Lot, bounded by Topsfield Road, 4 1-2 rods, and
by land of John Sawyer, about 12 rods ; by land of Moses
Wildes, about 5 rods, and by land of Solomon Wildes, about 14
rods.

Also — A Lot of Land, bounded by Topsfield road 4 1-2 rods,
and by land of Benjamin Kimball, about 16 rods ; by land of
Wm. Cleav eland, about 6 rods, and by Academy road, about 16
rods, to the bounds first mentioned ; with one large Dwelling
House, finished throughout, and convenient for 4 families ; with
stable 30 by 40 feet.

Also — 1 share in Topsfield Academy.

J. H. WARD, Assignee.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 16, 1844.

To the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas , holden at Salemt

within and for the County of Essex , on the third Monday of

March , 1844.

The petition of Zaccheus Gould, of Topsfield, in said County
of Essex, yeoman, shows that your petitioner is interested in and
holds in common and u ndivided, certain parcels of Real Estate,
viz : thirty-seven acres of wood and pasture land in the town of
Boxford, bounded by Crooked pond ; by land formerly Nath’l
Gould’s ; by land of Oliver Kilham, and by land of John Balch ;
his share of this parcel being six sevenths of one third part;

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 138

the other owners being David Towne and William Hubbard of
Topsfield.

Eleven and three quarters acres of Woodland, situated in Box-
ford, bounded by land of Wm. Low, Samuel Gould, Israel Rea,
and Andrew Gould, his share being six sevenths of one half ;
the other owners being Huldah Perley, wife of Artemas W.
Perley of Hampstead, H. H., Mrs. Anna Lake, wife of Enoch
Lake of Boxford, Daniel Boardman of Georgetown, Elizabeth
James, wife of Samuel Janes of Topsfield, and Haney Goodale,
wife of Samuel Goodale of Boxford.

Five acres of tillage and pasture land, situated in Topsfield,
bounded by land of Wm. R. Hubbard, Humphrey G. Hubbard,
Benjamin F. Hubbard, all of Topsfield and Moses Wildes of
Boston ; his share of this parcel being six sevenths of the same,
the other owners being Huldah Perley, Anna Lake, Daniel
Boardman, Elizabeth Janes and Haney Goodale before named if
our petitioner is desirous of holding his share in said parcels of
land in severalty. Wherefore he prays that partition of the
premises may be ordered and that Commissioners, may be
appointed to set off his share by metes and bounds, to be held
by him and his heirs and assigns forever. And as in duty bound
will ever pray.

ZACCHEUS GOULD by
J. W. PROCTOR, his Att’y.

[The persons at interest were ordered to appear at a Court
held at Ipswich the third Monday in June following.]

Salem Gazette , Apr. 16, 1844.

jg^^Recent movements in the pleasant town of Topsfield exhi-
bit a very commendable degree of public spirit, on the part of
the inhabitants. The town has voted to build a new and suitable
school house in every district, and have chosen a committee to
build the same. There is also an active interest to ornament
and improve the beautiful common by setting out ornamental
trees and filling up ponds. A new meeting house, as our readers
are aware, has recently been erected. The ladies of the Congre-
gational parish are busily at work for the purpose of building a
vestry. The ladies of the Methodist Society are as actively
engaged, their object being to build a vestry under the church.
Quite a number of dwelling houses are building this season, and
a laudable interest is manifested in regard to improvements in
general.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 30, 1844.

134 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Died. In Topsfield, Mr. Stephen W. Lemont, aged 27 — a
native of Litchfield, (Maine), — a worthy and exemplary young
man.

Salem Gazette , Apr. 30, 1844.

Died In Topsfield, Jan 7, Mrs. Kezia Hiscock, aged 23 — a
native of Ohipman, County of Wiltshire, England,

Salem Gazette , Jan. 14, 1845.

Died. In Manchester 21st inst, (at the home of her son-in-
law, Rev. 0. A. Taylor,) Mrs. Experience Cleaveland, relict
of the late Hon. Nehemiah Cleaveland, of Topsfield, in the 81st
year of her age.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 31, 1845.

The Snow Storm, which commenced on Tuesday forenoon,
continued through the greater part of the night, and is said to
have been the most severe we have had for many years.* * *
The Haverhill mail was taken by Mr. Pinkham in a light sleigh.
* * * The snow is very deep, and the roads are almost impass-
able, back of us. Our friends in Topsfield turned out with great
spirit, on Wednesday, to remove the embargo, at a cost to the
town of about three hundred dollars. The process they adopted
is ingenious, and seems preferable to the old fashioned “ heater.”
They fastened a very heavy log, 8 or 10 feet in length across
the front of the sled, and then filling the sled as heavily as pos-
sible with shovellers, and dragged by a sufficient number of oxen
they pursued their route, thus levelling the high banks, and
pushing the snow before the log over the bare places, so as to
make good sleighing all the way through. They made the road
good to the Danvers line, and at the Georgetown line they were
met by the people of that town, who continued the good work.
The Topsfield people aided Mr. Pinkham along, with his mails,
partly by the road, and in part through the pastures, as far as
Boxford.

Salem Gazettef Feb. 7, 1845.
FARM AT AUCTION.

Will be sold at public auction on TUESDAY, 25th day of
March, inst., at 1 o’clock, P. M. in Topsfield.

The Farm formerly belonging to the late Isaac Killam, con-
sisting of about seventy acres of good land, well divided in

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 135

mowing, pasturing and tillage; two never failing wells of water,
the buildings consist of a large double house and large barn with
a shed attached to the same, grainery, chaise house and piggery,
and other out buildings, all in good repair, together with several
choice fruit trees. Also, a very valuable peat meadow on said
farm. Said farm is well fenced with good stone wall — situated
on the main road from Salem to Boxford, about 3-4 of a mile
from the flourishing village of Topsfield and in all respects a very
desirable situation for a gentleman of leisure and worthy the
attention of purchasers.

Sale will be positive on the premises. Conditions made known
at time and place, which will be liberal. For further particulars
enquire of

W. G. LAKE, Auct’s.

Topsfield, March 4, 1845.

Salem Gazette , Mar . 7, 1845.

Accident. Mr. John Bradstreet, of Topsfield, a respectable
young man, had his leg badly shattered on Wednesday last,
while riding. He observed that his harness was out of place,
and, when he was endeavoring to put it right, his house kicked
and broke his leg, mangling the flesh and causing it to bleed
fearfully. He is now doing as well as could be expected, con-
sidering the severe injury he received. — Reg.

Salem Gazette, Mar . 25, 1845.

Richard Phillips, Jr., of Topsfield, has been appointed one of
the Justices of the Peace, and Coroner, for the County of Essex.

Salem Gazette , May 20, 1845.

Fires in Salem. [In an account of a fire on Boston Street,
occurs the following :] The large building, formerly the Tops-
field meeting house, belonging to George Is ichols, jr. and occupied
by him and Charles Harrington, for tanning and currying, was
a times on fire and somewhat injured, but saved by great exer-
tions.

Salem Gazette , June 10, 1845.

ESSEX COUNTY.

The following well founded remarks, from the Haverhill
Gazette, present a true picture of Essex County as it was, and
is : —

Probably no portion of Massachusetts of the same extent, has
furnished more emigrants to settle abroad in the different

136 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

States than the County of Essex. So great was the emigration
that in the opinion of good judges there has been little if any
increase of inhabitants for sixty years, prior to 1820.

The innumerable cellars and remains of chimneys now stand-
ing in the remote parts of almost every town, whose firesides
had become extinct, compared with any increase which had then
taken place in our towns and villages, go far to prove to popu-
lation of this county was then rather declining than increasing.

Few manufactories had sprung up among us, except those
strictly domestic. Many had settled on the poorer lands, from
which the rich valley of the Connecticut, and the still richer
lands of the West had tempted them to remove : their farms
were sold out to become pastures to their more prosperous
neighbors, and the houses were pulled down that the rich farmer
might not be encumbered by the vicinity of some poor family,
who from that time would naturally become their only tenants.
It would be truly surprising to any one not acquainted with the
fact, to go over our back grounds, and witness the numerous
deserted locations which were once the abode of happy families,
now desolate, and many of them actually buried in new grown
forests.

The building of a new house was an important event in a town
or neighborhood, and marked the year in which it took place. The
houses were of course ancient, and almost all unpainted, and
the painting white of the window frames and sashes of a certain
house in Rowley, now Georgetown, was spoken of by a neighbor
as marking the pride and aspiring disposition of the owner, who
was frequently dignified by them with the title of “ Prince.”

About 1820, a new spirit came over the State and County, and
from that time many more have come into the county than have
left it. Under the Tariff of 1816 and ’24, manufactories sprang
up in every quarter. Our villages have increased — new build-
ings have risen, and any town or parish which does not add a
half dozen dwellings a year to their accommodation is quite left
behind its neighbors.

Since that time more than 200 houses have been built in
Haverhill, Georgetown and Andover, 100 in Bradford, and a
proportionate number in Topsfield, West Newbury and other
towns in this part of the County, while the extraordinary in-
crease of business in Lynn, Danvers, and other southern towns
in the County, fully sustains their part of the statement.

The population of the County in 1790 was 57,913 — in 1840 it
was 94,987, and the business of the County has increased in a
much larger ratio.

Salem Gazette , June 24, 1845.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 137

NOTICE.

That portion of Danvers, hitherto called “ Blind Hole,” will
hereafter be known by the name “ Putnainville.”

Salem Gazette , June 24, 1845.

Accident in Topsfield. We learn that on Saturday last, as
Mr. Erastus Clark, a respectable and industrious farmer in
Topsfield, was employed in tending a threshing machine, he had
his right hand caught in the clogs of the cylinder, and the
thumb and little finger were instantly torn entirely from the
hand. The rest of the fingers and hand were also much bruised
and lacerated — Adv.

Salem Gazette , Aug. 15, 1845.

Youthful Crime. Two young men belonging to Topsfield, one
about 16, and the other 19 years of age, ran away from their
parents one day last week, having in their possession about one
thousand dollars in money and notes. Having been advertised
in some of the papers, an interest was taken in the matter to
secure them. On Tuesday, as the 3 o’clock train of cars was
coming from Boston, one of the Express men attached to the
road, discovered them by the description before given. Just be-
fore the cars arrived at Breed’s wharf in Lynn, the little rascals
leaped upon the marshes and endeavored to make their escape.
Word being left with proper authority concerning their where
abouts, Constables Phillips and Stone were despatched in pursuit
of them, and after a search of four hours, found them at Mr.
Tilton’s store, Front street, where they were awaiting the arrival
of the next train for Portland, having previously purchased
tickets to go through, but presuming they were detected, bolted
the first opportunity. They were armed with dirk-knives and
pistols, and made severe threats to any who should dare mo-
lest them. — Advertiser.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 2, 1845.

Methuen and Newburyport Railroad.

A writer in the Newburyport Herald thinks that the proposed
road should run along upon the banks of the Merrimac accom-
odating Amesbury village with a depot somewhere not far
from Powow river Bridge, and passing through Haverhill and
the new city to Lowell. “ Let Georgetown,” says the writer, “ be
accomodated by a road from Haverhill to Salem, accomodating
Topsfield in like manner, when they shall please to construct it.”

Salem Gazette , Oct. 28, 1845.

138 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

We are indebted to Mr. C. Herrick, of Topsfield, for New
York papers in advance of the mail.

Salem Gazette , Dec. 19, 1845.

Died. In Topsfield, Dec. 9, Mrs. Mary Towne, aged 76,
widow of the late Jacob Towne, Esq. Mrs. T. was a lady of no
ordinary character. With an expansive mind and retentive
memory she had acquired a knowledge of things in general,
surpassed but by few, and many were they who sought of her
that information of historical events long since past, which she
was always ready to impart with precision and accuracy. She
was fond of reading and when her time was not occupied by
domestic or other important objects, she was storing it with
useful knowledge. It is said of her and I believe with truth,
that she had read every number of the Salem Gazette since its
first publication, and had them preserved in file up to the time
of her death. She was familiar with all the most important
events which had transpired within her knowledge for the last
sixty years. She was “ a mother in Israel.” Having a heart
to feel and hand to give, and poor and needy found in her a
friend and benefactor, and her deeds of charity endeared her to
a large circle, who will long feel her loss. For nearly fifty
years she was a member of the Church in Topsfield, and by her
works manifested her faith — Comviunicated.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 6, 1846.

Bill of Mortality for the Town of Topsfield , for the year

1845.

Jan. 1, Benjamin Albert, only son of Benjamin Adams, aged
3 years ; 7th, Mrs. Keziah Hitchcock, aged 22 ; 10th, Daniel
Averill, aged 74. Feb. 16th, K-uth Eliza, only daughter of Ben-
jamin Adams, aged 1 year. March 2d, Widow Sarah Balch,
aged 75 ; 6th, Ellen Edna, child of L. H. Gould, aged 2. April
8th, Widow Salome Perkins, aged 75. June 9th, Mehitable
Towne, aged 50 ; 22d, Daniel Towne, aged 56. Aug. 3d, Jane
Beckers, aged 5 ; a child of William Fears, aged 8 mos. Sept.
9th, Abigail Perkins, wife of B. S. Perkins, aged 22 years ; 20th,
John Bachelder, aged 78. Oct. 1st, Anna Lake, wife of the
late Enos Lake, aged 62; 6th, Joseph Peabody, aged 80; 17th,
Joseph Hart, aged 70; 18th, Walter, son of Asa Bradstreet,
aged 18 months ; 29th, Harriet, wife of Ebenezer Eastman, aged
22 years. Nov. 15th, Mariette B., daughter of Wm. G. Lake,
aged 10 ; 22d, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas L. Lane, aged 24 ;

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 139

27th, Edwin Wallace, only son of A. P. Averill, aged 7. Dec.
9th, Mary Towne, wife of the late Jacob Towne, aged 77.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 6, 1846.

Died. In Topsfield, on the 22d ult, Mr. Nathaniel Per-
kins, jr., aged 32 years. He was a man possessed of sterling
integrity, and unobtrusive but sincere piety ; and was universally
respected for his sincerity of heart, his gentlemanly deportment,
and uprightness of character. During his life he uniformly
displayed an unwavering attachment to his friends, a sincere
love for the political institutions of his country and a deep
reverence for morality and religion.

Within the brief period of a few weeks, the parents of the
deceased have followed to the silent grave one son and two
daughters ; at that interesting period in life, when just setting
out in the world for themselves, bright and promising, their
parents’ joy and hope, they were seized with that fell disease
which annually sweeps off so many of the sons and daughters
of New England.

Salem Gazette , Jan. 27, 1846.

TOWN OFFICERS IN TOPSFIELD, 1846.

Town Clerk — Jacob P. Towne.

Selectmen — John G. Hood, Wm. Hubbard, Thomas L. Lane.

Assessors — Nehemiah Balch, John Hood, Josiah Bradstreet.

Overseers — Jos. W. Batchelder, Wm. Hubbard, B. C. Orne.

School Committee — John G. Hood, Wm. E. Kimball, Thomas
L. Lane, John C. Balch, David Clarke.

Salem Gazette , Mar. 13, 1846.

Danvers and Georgetown Railroad. At a meeting of this
Corporation held last Wednesday afternoon, at the Town Rooms,
the following gentlemen were chosen Directors for the ensuing
year.

R. S. Daniels, George Osborne, Kendall Osborn, Henry Poor,
David Daniels, E. W. Upton, Lewis Allen, John Kimball, R. A.
Merriam.

Salem Gazette , Mar. 24, 1846.

[C. H. Holmes, assignee, advertised meetings of the creditors
of William Wait, shoemaker, and Arial H. Gould, trader, both
of Topsfield.]

Salem Gazette , May 9, 1846.

140 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Assignees Sale.

Will be sold at Public Auction on MONDAY, the 8th of June,
at 2 o’clock, P. M., at the shop of Henry Long, in Topsfield,

All the personal estate of John Sawyer, an insolvent debtor,
consisting of one horse, one cow, horse-cart, sleigh, ploughs and
various other articles ; also several notes and bills of accounts.

After the sale of the above will be sold the real estate, con-
sisting of a parcel of land near the Academy, in Topsfield, in
lots to suit purchasers.

Also about two acres of River Meadow situated on the ‘ Bunk-
ers’ (so called), adjoining the barn lot.

Also about two acres of Peat Meadow on ‘ Hassocky Meadow,’
(so called) bounded by land of Ebenezer Peabody, Nehemiah
Perkins and others, in lots to suit purchasers.

Also about three fourths of an acre of Peat Meadow near the
house now occupied by said Sawyer.

Also one undivided half of about two acres of Peat Meadow
situated in Linebrook parish, in Ipswich near the house of Eph-
raim Averell.

Also all right and title in and to one undivided eighth part of
about one hundred and twenty acres of land situated in Litch-
field, county of Kennebec, State of Maine.

Terms made known at time and place of sale.

JOHN G. HOOD, Assignee.

Topsfield, June 2, 1846.

Salem Gazette , June 2, 1846.

Died. In Topsfield, suddenly Mrs. Anna, wife of Mr. John
B. Lake, and daughter of Mr. Zaccheus Gould, aged 33 years.
This is the second time (within the short period of three years)
that Mr. Lake has been called to follow a beloved wife to the
silent tomb ; and the afflicted parent, two lovely daughters.

Salem Gazette, June 16, 1846.

Benjamin C. Orne has been appointed Postmaster of Topsfield,
in place of Richard Phillips, jr., Esq., who might have kept the
office, if he had been willing to purchase continuance at the usual
rate.

Salem Gazette, Aug. 7, 1846.

For the Gazette.

Mr. Editor, — I preceive by accounts in your and other
papers, that the potato crop, in this and other countries, is

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 141

affected with disease, so prevalent last year. From three years
experience upon the different methods of raising this valuable
root, I am convinced, that unless we cast off the new mode of its
cultivation, the potato will become entirely extinct. I find that
where the old mode of cultivation has been continued, there
has been no trouble with the rot. I refer to the mode of earth-
ing up the land. Where this is done, and has been continued
for years, there is no trouble with the disease ; but where the
mode is adopted of keeping the ground level and not earthing it
up at all, and where this mode has been continued for three or
four years, the disease is prevalent. If good seed be planted one
year, and cultivated by keeping the ground level, the next fall
the crop, will not be so good as the seed planted in the previous
spring, for the disease has slightly injured it. The second year
if the produce of the first be planted, the disease will plainly
show itself. The third year the crop will be very much affected.
The disease is not produced entirely in one year, but continues
to grow upon the crop as time increases, with the modern mode
of cultivating the land level, and with but very little earth upon
the potato to protect it from the severe rays of the sun. The
earth is a preserver of the potato, if rightly managed, and the sun’s
rays are a sure poison, as any one will perceive by exposing a
potato to the influence of the sun for a day of two. For the
protection of the potato it is necessary to have it well covered
up with the earth. The severe hot rays of the sun and water
that must stand on the land after a rain, where the ground is
kept perfectly level, are sure to effect the potato, and then com-
mences the disease.

After considerable enquiry, I have found that those farmers
in this vicinity who have never adopted the manner of keeping
their land level, but who have always earthed up their potatoes,
and have planted the potatoes so raised, have never had any
trouble with their crop. Water should never stand for any length
of time upon the potato, and in earthing up the hill it necessarily
causes small dippers in the rows of potatoes, which hold the
water and cause it to soak into the ground under the potato. If
the water lay upon the potato, and it is but slightly covered with
the earth, the extreme heat of the sun, with the water that must
stand up on the potato, produce this disease which will destroy
the crop in a few years, where the new mode of cultivation is
continued.

TOPSFIELD.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 4, 1846.

142 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

Correspondence of the Salem Gazette .

Topsfield, Sept. 26, 1846.

Mr. Editor, — I am emboldened by the example of your Lynn
correspondent, to inform you that the same game is going on
here. Certain emissaries of the Malden Railroad frequently
condescend to visit us, to enlighten our ignorance, and pull the
wires so that we may send men to the County Convention who
will subserve the interests of that corporation. I have been
partial to that road, and intended to make an investment of
some of my small means in it; but I must confess that my
gorge rises at the idea of a Whig Senatorial Convention being
made to play second fiddle to a little money making scheme, for
the aggrandisement of a few individuals. If these acute mana-
gers should succeed in the ingenious scheme of packing the
Convention, which they have attempted, its nominations will
not be worth a pinch of snuff — The Whigs of Essex will not
tamely submit to having their organization perverted, to put
money into the pockets of the Malden Railroad Company.

TOPSFIELD.

Salem Gazette , Sept. 29, 1846.

^ We are desired to mention, that the letter signed “ Topsfield”
in our last paper, was not written by the same person who wrote
an article under that signature, in reference to potato rot, a few
weeks since.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 2, 1846.

A Melancholy End. The life of an elderly man, belonging
to this city, was brought to a melancholy termination, on Friday
of last week. His name was Knight, and some years ago, in
a fit of intemperance, both his feet were so badly frozen that it
was found necessary to amputate them. He has since sometimes
been supported in our workhouse, from which he eloped about
two months ago. Last Friday, he was found under a wall in
Boxford or Topsfield, where it seems, he had been lying nine or
ten days. He was removed, and taken care of, but survived
only a short time, and was yesterday buried in this city.

Salem Gazette , Oct. 6, 1846.

RAILROAD MEETING.

At a railroad meeting held at Boxford, Nov. 4th, by a re-
pectable number of gentlemen from Topsfield, Boxford and
Georgetown.

NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD. 143

Chose Col. J ohn Kimball, chairman, and David Mighill, secre-
tary of said meeting.

Chose a committee from the following towns, viz : —

Georgetown, — George J. Tenney, Col. John Kimball and
Benjamin Little, Esq.

Boxford, — Gen. Solomon Low, Thomas Sawyer, Daniel An-
drews and Samuel W. Jenkins.

Topsfield, — Dr. Joseph Batchelder, John Wright, and Charles
Herrick.

The object of this meeting and the duty of the above commit-
tee is to lay before the Directors of the Salem, Danvers, and
New City railroad, and the public, that the road ought to run
through the manufacturing villages of Topsfield, Boxford both
villages, and Georgetown to Andover north depot, rather than
from Danvers to Swan’s Corner (so called.) That the utility of
railroads is to connect the interior of a country with the sea-
board, this cannot be denied. We ask where in our county for
the length of way, can be found a more level and convenient
location for a railroad than through these flourishing villages of
Topsfield, Boxford, Georgetown, and West Boxford, to North
Andover depot. Not in our county, and we presume not in the
state, and not more than four miles further than the contem-
plated route from Danvers to Swan’s Corner (so called). If
the contemplated route is rather a level way by following mea-
dows and swamps, and the uplands hard and rocky ; we ask if
the grading cannot be done vastly cheaper where it is almost all
upland and a sandy soil and free from rocky ledges ? The ques-
tion may be easily answered by a very poor philosopher. The
route from Topsfield to Boxford, everybody knows who has tra-
velled over the ground, that it is a level plain, and from thence
to Georgetown, but one elevation of twelve or fifteen feet, and but
a few rods in length, and thence running west of Georgetown vil-
lage making a very small curve, and shunning all the hills, and
having a level plain to West Boxford, and from there in a straight
course between Mr. Daniel Harriman and Mr. Jedediah H.
Barker, through the hollow, and running south of Andover pond
and to North Andover depot. We are sanguine that this route
can be graded for less money, than the contemplated route ; and
when your course to Swan’s corner, reaches the furthermost
village, within five miles, we would ask any mathematical gen-
tleman whether he can make four miles difference.

Taking into consideration these advantages, and when it is
accomplished you will connect the very centre of the county
with the seaboard, and greatly increase the value of the stock of

144 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD.

said road by a large number of tons of freight, and a goodly
number of passengers. Even one of these villages amounts to
25 or 30 thousand tons annually ; and not only these villages,
but Bradford and West Newbury ; — and on the other hand you
will receive nothing of any amount, except at the two termini of
said road, and all this loss to the advantages of the public and
pecuniary advantages to said road, only to shun the making of
four miles of road. Fine picture in the eyes of an enlightened
public. You may say we will have a spur to Georgetown.
Georgetown people are not of the low Dutch reformed, but of
pure Anglo Saxon blood, too highly mettled to receive the goad
or spur ; they will do all in their power to forward the enter-
prise, and wish to share the advantages in common with their
fellow citizens. And gentlemen, we wish you to view the ground
with an unprejudiced eye, and we are self-confident you will
answer our suplication.

The meeting stands adjourned to South Boxford, on Wednes-
day, (tomorrow,) at 7 o’clock, P. M. — A full attendance is
requested — Watchtower.

Salem Gazette , Nov. 17, 1846.

TOPSFIELD ACADEMY.

The Winter Term will commence on MONDAY, Nov. 30th,
and continue Twelve Weeks.

Tuition — for both males and females, $4.50 ; Languages,$1.00 ;
Music, $7.00 ; use of Piano, $2 extra. Board $1.50 to $2 per
week.

Application may be made to the Principal, or in his absence,
to Mr. B. P. Adams, near the Academy.

JOS. H. NOYES,

Principal.

Salem Gazette , Nov. 17, 1846.

(To be continued.)

THE

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF
TOPSFIELD, MASS.

COPIED BY HENRY F. LONG.

( Continued from Vol. XV, page 104.)

The Town agreed that no Parson shall dig or Carry of
any stones or rocks from of ye Parsonage above sd under the
Pennalty of ten shilling per load for Every Load so dug or
carried of voted

The Town agreed to fence in all ye Parsonage Land in
Topsfield with a Leagall stone wall — or other sufficient fence
byyefiftof march in 1724 voted

and also the Town agreed to fence in sd Parsonage Land
by ye same rule and the same ten years Rates that ye Last
Divisions of ye Common Lands in Topsfield was divided by

voted

and Mr Nath11 Porter Lieu* Tho : Baker & mr Edward Put-
nam are Chosen a Comiitty to Apportion and Let to Every
man his Proportion to fence about ye above sd parsonage
according to the rule as is above Expresed voted

The Town allowed to Tobijah Perkins junr six shilling for
Timber to mend the Bridge by Dec11 John howlets in ye year
1722 voted 060

The Town granted Liberty to ye inhabitants of Topsfd on
ye South Side of ye River, to Build a Pound where it may be
most convenient for sd inhabitants and the Town will pay ye
Charge voted

(•45)

46

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

John Clark & Eben Nickols are Chosen Hogreeves for ye
year Ensuing voted

Jacob Peabody being Chosen Town Clerk was sworn to
ye faithfull discharge of yt office before ye Selectmen Corp1
Nath11 Borman Dec Jn° Howlett Thomas gould Elisha Put-
nam & Jacob Peabody being Chosen Selectmen were Sworn
Assessors before the Last years Selectmen Corp1 Jacob
Robinson and Benj Knight being Chosen Constables were
sworn to ye faithfull Discharge of their office before ye
present Selectmen

Jn° Hovey Edward Putnam & David Balch being Chosen
tythingmen were sworn to ye faithfull discharge of their office
before ye present Selectmen

Joseph Andrew Jacob Dorman Tho : Dwinell & ffrancis
Peabody being Chosen Surveyers of highways were Sworn
to ye faithful discharge of their office before the present
Selectmen Clerk Elisha Perkins & Lieut Thomas Baker and
Corp1 Joseph Town being Chosen fence viewers were Sworn
to ye faithfull discharge of their office before ye present Se-
lectmen John Clark and Eben : Nickols being Chosen hog-
reeves were sworn to ye faithfull Discharge of their Office
before ye present Selectmen the persons above Named that
were sworn were all sworn on ye fift and on ye Eighth Days
of March 1722-3

attest Jacob Peabody Town Clerk

Sarg1 Amos Dorman being Chosen Sealer of Leather was
sworn to ye faithfull Discharge of that office before ye Select-
men on ye 25 day of March 1 723

The free holders and other inhabitants of ye Town of Tops-
field Such as are Qualified as ye Law Directs for Voting: are
hereby notified to meet at ye meeting house in Topsfield:
on Munday ye twentyfift day of March Currant at two of
ye Clock in ye afternoon first to Choose and agree with a
Schoolmaster. 2ly to see if the Town will give Liberty for
Swine to go at Large. 3ly to see if the Town will Lett ye
Parsonage to Either of those men that Lately appeared to
Hire it or Else return their Earnest money [234] 4ly To

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

H7

Choose men and impower them to make ye fence about
the Parsonage Land in Topsfield, where any person or
Persons shall Refuse or neglect, to make his or their pro-
portion of sd fence according to ye Town order at ye Last
Town Meeting in Topsfield.

Jacob Robinson Constable of Topsfield

Jacob Peabody by order of ye rest of ye Selectmen of
Topsfield

At a Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield on ye 25 of March
1723 Dean Daniel Redington is Chosen Moderator for this
meeting voted

Mr John Hovey is Chosen Schoolmaster for ye year En-
suing and the Town agreed with s : d Hovey for twenty shill-
ings for being Schoolmaster voted

The Town agreed that Swine may go at Large according

as the Law gives Liberty voted

the Town ordered that Samuel Bradstreet should have his
money that he Laid down to the Town, as Earnest for ye
Parsonage voted

The Town Ordered that Corp1 Eliezer Lake should have

his money that he Laid down to ye Town as Earnest for the
Parsonage voted

The freeholders and other inhabitants of ye Town of Tops-
field Such as are Qualified as ye Law Directs for voting; are
hereby Notified, to meet at the meeting house in Topsfield
on Wednesday ye Eighth of May Currant at two of ye Clock
in ye afternoon : first to Chuse a Representative 2ly to
Choose jurymen for Ipswich Court; and also to act upon
any other thing or things that ye Town shall then think
needfull and Proper to be done.

DatdTopsfid May ye 3d 1723. Thomas gould J
Jacob Robinson Constable. John Howlet

Elisha Putnam )>
Nathaniel Borman |
Jacob Peabody J

Selectmen
of Topsfield

48

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

At a Lawfull Town Meeting in Topsfid May: 8th 1723 first
Decn Daniel Redington is Chosen Moderator for this meeting

voted

En : Timothy Perkins is Chosen to Represent the Town
at ye General Court at their several Sessions ye year Ensuing :

voted

Dec11 Daniel Redington is Chosen to Serve on ye grand
jury and Edward Putnam and Nath11 Porter are Chosen to
Serve on ye jury of Tryals at ye next Superior Court to be
holden at Ipswich voted

Boston May ye 7th: 1723 then Recd of Mr Allen Treasur-
er four Pounds in Bills of Credit, it being so much due to
ye Town of Topsfield, for a Wolf Killed in sd Town: in part
for my serving at ye General Court in the year 1722 : by or-
der of the Selectmen of Topsfield

I say Recd by me Daniel Clark

Exam :d and Entred by me Jacob Peabody Town Clerk
for Topsfield

Recd of Thomas Dwinell Constable of Topsfield the sum of
four Pounds Nineteen shill8 & four pence in full for ye County
Rate for ye s:d Towne for ye year 1722

Ipswich may 22 : 1723 P John Appleton County treasr

A true Copy attest Jacob Peabody Town Clerk

[235] At a Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield Septrye 10th
1723 Corp^ath11 Borman & Serg1 Zacheus Gould are chosen
to Serve on ye Jury of Tryals at the Next Inferior Court to be
holden at Newbery within and for ye County of Essex

The freeholders and others inhabitants of ye Town of Tops-
field such as are Leagally Qualified for voting are hereby
Notified & warned to meet at ye Meeting house in Topsfield,
on fryday ye Twenty fift day of October Current at Twelve
of ye Clock on sd day. first to Agree upon some way and
Method for ye fencing in & improveing ye Parsonage Land in
Topsfield and for building a house on said Parsonage land

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

49

To Chuse men and impower them to Prosecute in the
Law any Person or Persons that have Already Dug or Car-
ried of any stones or rocks from of ye above said Parsonage
Land: in Topsfield: or that shall hereafter Presume to Dig
or Carry of any stones or rocks from of ye above said
Parsonage Land : Contrary to ye Town order made on ye fift
Day of Last March To give some further instructions or
Order to ye Trustees viz Cap1 Joseph Gould Cap1 Thomas
Baker & Dea John Howlet for their future Proseeding in Let-
ing out ye Towns money: To allow to ye Reverend Mr

Joseph Capen Nine pound as formerly. And also to allow
bills of charge, and to act upon any of ye Perticulars Above
Mentioned as yc town shall then think best.

Dat: Topsfield October the 14 1723

Jacob Robinson Constable Thomas Gould ^Slecet-

Natha Borman >men of
Jacob Peabody ) Topsfd

At a Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield : October ye 25 :
1723 first Dea John Howlett is chosen Moderator for this
meeting. voted

The Town agreed that y® Trustees viz: Cap1 Joseph Gould
Cap1 Thomas Baker & Deaa John Howlett shall Let out ye
towns money at one shilling upon the pound for interest:
by yeyear for the future and to Let out said money but from
year to year as they shall receive orders from ye Town, and
ye some or Sums of sd money to Let : to be as y® Town hath
formerly agreed upon : voted

The Town allowed to y® Reverend Mr Joseph Capen nine
pounds to add to his salary for this year voted

the Town alowed to Joseph How one pound three shillings
for sweeping yG meeting house one year past voted 0130

The Town alowed to Elisha Putnam a former Constable
twelve Shillins and six pence it being an alowance for
Nathan Kennes Rates voted 00 12 06

150

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

The Town allowed to Jacob Perkins: five shillins & six
pence for mending ye Meeting house glass in ye year 1721

voted 00 05 06

the town allowed to Quaster Nath1 Borman two shillings
for giting a warrant Entred at ye Quarter sessions at New-
bery this year voted 00 02 00

The Town allowed to mr Jacob Robinson Constable one
shilling for warning John Pickit out of Town voted 00 01 00

Boston July, Is 1723

Recd of Mr David Balch Constable of Topsfield Twenty
Pounds twelve shillings & nine pence in full for my Master
Jer: Allen Treasurer. £ 20-12-9 P Geor : Rogers

Rec:d of Mr David Balch as Constable for Topsfield for
ye year 1722 ye full & just sum of three pounds twelve shill-
ings which he was Ordered by the Selectmen of Topsfield
for ye year afore said to Collect & Deliver to me I say rec :d
ye sum above said this 12th of March 1722-3 per me Joseph
Capen

Topsfield. May 27 : 1723 : then Recd of David Baltch Con-
stable two shillings in full of what was Ordered to me by ye
Selectmen. I say recived By me Thomas Gould

These three Recipts Last Entred are true Copies: Exam-
ined :

P Jacob Peabody Town Clerk

[236] Topsfield October: 15 1723 Then Recd of Constable
Balch for serving at the General Court the Sum: sixteen
pound seven shillings in full what was Ordered him to Pay
me I say recd by me

Daniel Clark

Topsfield May ye 18 day 1723 Reced of David Baltch Con-
stable ye sum of seven shillings in full which was ordered to
me by ye Selectmen for my husband Averills sweeping y®
meeting house :

I say recid by me ye widow Mary Averill

Topsfield ffebruary : 14: 1722-3 Recd of David Balch Con-
stable Nine shillings and Six pense in full of what was or-
dered to me by ye Selectmen

I say recd by me Samuel Howlett

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

15

Topsfield August: 17: 1723 Recd of David Balch Con-
stable ye sum of two shillings & six pence in full of what was
ordered to me by ye Selectmen of ye Town I say Recd by
me Elesha Perkins These four Recipts, above Entred, are
true Copies: Attest Jacob Peabody Town Cler

The freeholders & other inhabitants of y* Town of Tops-
field such as are Qualified as ye Law Directs for Voting are
hereby Notified to meet at the meeting house in Topsfield :
on Tuesday ye tenth Day of December Current at twelve of
ye Clock on s:d Day: first To Chuse an Agent or Agents
to Answer to ye Towns Presentment for not being Provided
with a grammar School-master. 2ly to agree upon some
Method to Improve ye intrest of ye towns Loan money 3ly
to allow bills of Charge

Dat: Topsfield Decemr : 4th 1723 Thomas gould ^Selectmen
Jacob Robinson Constable of John Howlett £ of

Topsfield Jacob Peabody ) Topsfield

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield Decemr 15th
1723. first Dea11 John Howlett is Chosen moderator for this
meeting • voted

Dean Jn° Howlett & Mr. Nath11 Porter are Chosen Agents for
yetown to appear at ye next Inferiour Court to be holden at
Salem to answer to ye Towns Presentment for not being pro-
vided with a grammer Schoolmaster voted

The town agreed that ye Selectmen shall Recive the in-
trest of ye Towns Loan money of the Trustees: & pay the
Towns Debts therewith as far as it will go voted

the Town agreed that ye Selectmen shall raise money to
pay ye Representative this year: voted

the Town allowed one shilling to Joseph How for mend-
ing ye meeting house Latch voted

Whereas Thomas Demsi was rated in ye year 1722 to Sev-
eral Rates ye sum of nine shillings & six pence: and sd
Demsi then being & still is in his Majesties Service so that
ye Constable cannot yet recover sd Demsis rats Therefore
the Town allowed to David Baltch Constable, nine shillings
& six pence 096 voted

52

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

the Town granted Liberty to Mr Nath1 Porter Joseph
Town & others to sit up a stable near to mr Capens fence

voted

The Town granted Liberty to Thomas gould & Cap1
Joseph gould to set up a stable near ye Little Pond on ye
south of ye meeting house voted

Decemr 31: 1 723 Then Rec :d of ye Select men by ye hand
of Thomas gould for part of my wages for going Represen-
tative: the sum of Nine pound six shillings: I say rec:d by
me Timothy Perkins

Received of mr David Baltch as Constable for Topsfield
ye full of what was Committed to him to Collect for my use
for ye year 1722 I say recd in full this 18 : Day of feb1^ 1723-4
per me Joseph Capen

These two receipts Last Entred are true Copies attest
Jacob Peabody Town Clerk

[237] The freeholders & other inhabitants of this Town Such
as are Quallified as ye Law Directs for Voting are hereby No-
tified to meet at ye meeting house in Topsfield on Tuseday ye
third of March next after the Date hereof at Eight of ye
Clock in ye morning first to Choose a Town Treasurer &
other Town officers as ye Law directs

To Chuse a Committe to Seat People in the Meeting
house

To See if ye Town will Chuse a Committe to Settle bounds
with Boxford

To agree upon some Method to Improve the Parsonage
Land in Topsfield

DatdTopsfield ffeb^ ye 18th 1723-4 Thomas gould ^Selectmen
Jacob Robinson Constable of John Howlett > of

Topssd Jacob Peabody ) Topsfield

At a Lawfull Town meeting of ye Inhabitants of Topsfield
on ye third of March 1723-4

Dec" John Howlett is Chosen Moderator for sd meeting

voted

Jacob Peabody is Chosen Town Clerk for yeyear Ensuing

voted

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

153

Eliezar Lake & Edmon Town are Chosen Constables ; for ye
year Ensuing * voted

Nath11 Porter, Decn John Howlet, Joseph Town, Elisha
Perkins & John Hovey are Chosen Selectmen for ye year
Ensuing voted

William Porter William Town & John Willds are Chosen
Tythingmen for ye year Ensuing voted

En : Amos Dorman is Chosen Sealer of Leather for yeyear
Ensuing voted

Luke Averill John Town John Dwinell & Daniel Town are
Chosen: Sirveyers of highways forye year Ensuing voted

Joseph Dorman John Willds Thos Robinson & Eben :
Nicholls are Chosen fence viewers for ye year Ensuing voted

Joshua Town & John Perkins are Chosen Hogreeves for
ye year Ensuing voted

Cap1 Joseph gould, CaptThos Baker, Ivory Hovey, Thom-
as Robinson & Mr Simon Bradstreet, are Chosen a Com-
mitte to Seat People in ye meeting house voted

The Town Agreed that the Orders Relating to ye Preseru-
ing the wood & Timber and also the stones or rocks, on the
Parsonage Land in Topsfield, that was made in ye year 1723.
shall stand good for this year folloing voted

And Thomas Gould Nath11 Borman & Nath11 Porter are
Chosen Agents or Attorneys in behalf of ye Town to Prose-
cute any Person or Persons that shall Presume to Brake
Either of ye above sd Orders voted

and the Major part of sd Agents or Attorneys shall act
in ye concern about the Parsonage and ye Town to bear
them out in all Lawfull Proseedings therein voted

Doc1 Michael Dwinell is Chosen to serve on ye grand jury
and William Redington & Joseph Robinson are Chosen to
serve on ye Jury of Tryals at ye next Inferiour Court to be
holden at Ipswich voted

154

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

En : Amos Dorman is Chosen Schoolmaster for the year
Ensuing voted

the Town agreed to give 20 shillings to En : Amos Dor-
man for keeping school this year voted

En : Amos Dorman Qu : master Ephraim Willds & En :
Timothy Perkins are Chosen A Committe, to Joyn with
such men as Boxford shall appoint to Settle the bounds be-
tween Topsfield & Boxford voted

The Several Persons Chosen into Office at ye above sd
meeting of whom an oath is by Law required : all took ye
oath to Their respective Offices on ye third day of march
1723-4 before ye Selectmen attest Jacob Peabody Town Clerk

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield on ye seventh of
Aprill 1724. the Town agreed that swine should go at Large
this year according as the Law gives Liberty voted

[238] The freeholders & other Inhabitants of ye Town of
Topsfield Quallified for Voting as ye Law Directs are Notified
& warned to meet here at ye meeting next Wedensday at
three of ye Clock in the after noon it being the thirteenth of
May Currant, ffirst to Choose a Representative to serve at
the great and general Court, to be hild at Boston on ye Last
Wedensday of May Instant 2d To Choose Jurymen to serve
at Ipswich Court to be holden on ye third Tuseday of this
Instant May Elisha Perkins^

Datd Topsfield May 6th 1724 Nath1 Porter I Select-

Eliezar Lake Constable of Topsfid John Howlet >men of

Joseph Town | Topsf :
John Hovey J

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield May ye 13th 1724
ffirst Dea: John Howlett is Chosen moderator for this meet-
ing voted

Mr John Hovey is Chosen to Represent ye Town at ye

general Court the year following voted

Cler : Elisha Perkins is Chosen to serve on ye grand jury
& Jacob Town and Joseph Town are Chosen to serue on ye
Jury of Tryals at the Next Superiour Court to be holden at
Ipswich voted

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

155

We whose names are under written have meet & Peram
bulated and renewed bounds: Begining at a heap of stones
near Mr Porters Meadow and Runing to a Plump of maples
and Runing as the Brook runs to a stone & a stake in ye brook
near too Robinsons Island : and so runs to a stake and heap
of stones on sd Island as ye Line Runs & so to Pigdens
meadow and to the River as formerly
May ye 4 1724

Edmond Town ^ for John Batchelder ^ for

David Balch > Topsfield Benja : ffisk >Wenham

Elisha Perkins ) John Gott \

A True Copy of ye return, attest Jacob Peabody Town
Clerk

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield Septr ye 8th 1724
Mr: Simon Bradstreet & John Perkins are Chosen to serve
on ye Jury of Tryalls at ye Next Inferiour Court to be hold-
en at Newbery voted

At a Lawfull Town Meeting in Topsfield Decern ye 15th
1724 Mr Isaac Peabody is Chosen Moderator for this meeting

voted

The Town allowed to Dean John Howlett one pound Eigh-
teen shillings sd Howlet having Paid so much for giting ye
meeting house glass mended voted 1180

the Town allowed to Corp11 Tobijah Perkins one shilling
& six pence for Timber to mend the Bridge near to Luke
Averills in 1724 voted 016

the Town allowed to Nath11 Capen one shilling two pence
for two hundred of Lath Nails to nail up ye meeting house
glass in 1724 voted 012

the Town allowed to Dean John howlet and mr Nath11
Porter two pound five shillings & six pence for Court
Charges and their attendance at Salem Court: December
1723 to Answer to ye Towns Presentment for want of a
grammer School voted 256

the Town allowed to Jacob Peabody one shilling sd Pea-

body having Paid for a Copy of the Sommens to Answer ye
above sd Presentment voted 010

156 EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

[239] Whereas ye Selectmen warned ffrancis Johnson
out of town & got ye warent Entred in ye Court Records the
Town allowed to Mr Nath11 Porter five shillings for giting sd
warrent Entred as is above mentioned voted 050

the Town allowed to Cap* Thomas Baker seven shillings
& six pence for timber to mend the falls Bridge in 1724

voted 076

the Town Allowed nine pound to be Added to Mr Capens
stated Sallary ye year following voted

the Town allowed five shillings to Clerke Elisha Perkins
for giting ye warrent Entred in ye Court Records of Nath11
Ramsdells being Warned out of Town voted 050

Lastly the Town agreed that ye present selectmen should
recieve the intrest of ye Towns Loan Money of ye Trustees:
which is due to the Town for ye year past: and sd Select-
men are to Pay the Town Debts therewith voted

At A Lawfull Town Meeting in Topsfield Janry the 12
1724-5

the Town allowed four shillings & six pence to Luke Averill
for timber to mend ye highways in the year 1724

voted 046

The Town allowed three shillings to Sam11 Howlett and
three shillings to Joseph How for helping Mr: Lord about
mending ye meeting house glass in 1724 voted 060

The Town Allowed two shillings to Joseph Andrew for
Timber to mend the Mille Brook bridge in ye year 1723

voted 020

The Town allowed two shillings & six pence to Constable
Eliezer Lake for Warning ffrancis Johnson & Nath11 Rams-
dell out of Town voted 026

the Town allowed two shillings & Six pence to mr Nath11
Porter and two shillings and six pence to Corp1 Joseph Town
for Perambulating with Salem in 1724 voted 050

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

15 7

the Town Allowed to Clerk Elisha Perkins David Baulch
& Edmon Towne two shillings to Each of them for Perambu
lating with Wenham men in ye year 1724 voted 060

the Town allowed twelve pound to mr John Hovey for
serving representative sixty days at the General Court in ye
year 1724 voted 12 o o

the Town allowed five shillings to Nath11 Capen for helping
Mr Lord about mending ye meeting house Glass in ye year
1724 voted 050

Lastly the Town allowed Eighteen shillings to Capt Joseph
Gould Capt Thomas Baker and Dea11 John Howlett for their
trouble in Leting out ye Towns money the year past

voted o 18 o

Whereas we the Subscribers were ordred & impowered by
the Selectmen of Topsfield to Perambulate on the Line and
to renew the bounds between Topsfield & Boxford : accord-
ingly meeting at time and Place with Cap1 Thomas Perley
and Lieu1 Joseph Hale who were Likewise appointed by ye
Selectmen of Boxford for that service sd Cap1 Perley &
Lieu1 Hale told us that Except We would Promise to go
throughout and Renew or Settle the bounds between said
Towns according to ye General Court Resolves, they wholly
Declined the service: and so gave this as A Reason, that
they was informed that the Town of Topsfield had att a Town
meeting Chosen a Comritte for that Purpose: and so we
could proseed no farther in order of Perambulation.

Dated ye 12 of May 1724 Jacob Town

John Curtis

This is a True Copy Attest Jacob Peabody Town Cler

The freeholders & other inhabitants of this Town Qual-
lified as ye Law Directs for voting are to take Notice to meet
here at the meeting house on ye first Tuseday in march next
Ensuing ye Date hereof at Eight of the Clock in ye morning :
first to Choose Town Officers as the Law Directs.

To see if the Town will make Choice of a meet person to
mend any breach in or on the meeting house as need shall
require or to doe any other thing or things as shall then be

58

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

thought needful, by order of the Selectmen of Topsfield

Dated Topsfield ffeb:y 19: 1724-5 Nath11 Porter

Edmond Town Constable of Topsfield

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield on ye Second
Day of march 1724-5

Mr Nath11 Porter is Chosen Moderator for this meeting

voted

Jacob Peabody is Chosen Town Clerk for the year Ensuing

voted

Jacob Dorman and Benja Town are Chosen Constables for
ye year Ensuing voted

John Hovey Jacob Estey William Porter Michael Dwinel
and Dea John Howlet are Chosen selectmen to order ye Pru-
dentiall affairs of the Town for ye year Ensuing voted

Joshua Town Jacob Robinson & Thomas Dwinel are Chos
en Tythingmen for the year Ensuing voted

En: Amos Dorman is chosen Sealler of Leather for ye
year Ensuing voted

Dean John Howlet Sam1 Bradstreet and Thomas Gould
Richard Town and Thomas Caves are Chosen Sirveyers of
highways for ye year Ensuing voted

Corp1 Jacob Town Samuel Curtis Tobijah Perkins and
Jesse Dorman are Chosen fence viewers for ye year Ensuing

voted

John Willds and John Perkins are Chosen to make search
into the Turrit of the meeting house to see what repairing it
wants and to make Report thereof at ye next Town meeting
in Topsfield voted

Cler : Elisha Perkins is Chosen Grand Jury man for ye year
Ensuing voted

Tobijah Perkins & Jacob Peabody are Chosen to serve on
ye jury of Tryals at the next inferiour Court to be holdcn at
Ipswich voted

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

59

Mr Simon Bradstreet is Chosen Schoolmaster for ye year
Ensuing voted

John Nicholes & and John Burton are Chosen to rebuild
Topsfields part of the Bridge over the ye River Near to Ed-
ward Putnams between Topsfield and Boxford and to bring
their account to the Town when sd Work is Done and they
shall be reasonably allowed by ye Town for sd service voted

En: Amos Dorman & Serg* Tho : Robinson are Chosen
hogreeves for ye year Ensuing voted

The Persons Chosen to office at the above s :d meeting viz.
Town Clerk, Constables, Tythingmen, Sealer of Leather,
Sirveyors of highways, fence viewers, and Hogreeves all ap-
peared at the house of mr Daniel Clark immediately after
ye sd meet[ing] was over and took the oath belonging to their
Respective offices before ye Selectmen : Excepting Richard
Town

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield on ye 29 day of
march 1723 The Town agreed that swine should go at Large :
ye year following with as Much Liberty as the Law Allowes
of voted

The freeholders & other inhabitants of this Town such as
are Quallified according to Law for Voting are to take Notice
to meet at ye meeting house on fryday the seventh of May
next after the Date hereof at two of the Clock in ye after-
noon

To Choose A man to Represent them in the Great & Gen-
eral Court to be holden at Boston the Twenty six day of
May next. 2ly To Choose Three good & Lawfull Men to
serve upon ye Jury at ye Superior Court to be holden at
Ipswich the Third Tuseday of May next one whereof to
serve on the Grand Jury and ye other two upon ye Jury of
triads

To see if the Town will Choose A Committee to new seat
the People in ye Meeting house
Dated Topsfield Aprill: 28: 1725 John Hovey

in ye name and by

Jacob Dorman Constable Order of ye Selectmen

of Topsfield

i6o

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield May ye 7th 1725

I : Dea John Howlett is Chosen Moderator of sd meeting

voted

2 : Dea John Howlett is Chosen to Represent the Town at
General Court to be holden at Boston on the Twenty sixth
Day of this Instant and at their several sessions till sd Court
be Desolved voted

Mr Isaac [Peabody?] is Chosen to serve on ye Grand Jury
and Capt Tho : Baker & Mr. Tho : Gould are Chosen to
serve on ye Jury of Tryalls at ye next Superior Court to be
holden at Ipswich voted

Mr Thomas Gould Corp1 Eliezer Lake Corp1 Jacob Town
and Serg* Ivory Hovey are Chosen A Committee to new
Seat People in the Meeting house voted

The freeholders & other Inhabitants of this Town Qualli-
fied according to Law for voting are to take notice to meet
here at the meeting house on Tuseday the 20th of July Cur-
rant at two of ye Clocke in the afternoon

To see if the Town will Choose a Committe to see to ye
supply of the Pulpit with a Minister: 2ly To see what the
Town will Contribute towards the Funeral Charges of ye Rev-
erend mr Joseph Capen late Deceased

and to doe any other thing or things as shall be thought
needful

Dated July 7; 1725 William Porter 1

Jacob Dorman Constable John Howlett | Selectmen

Jacob Estey }»of Topsfd
Michael Dwinel |

John Hovey J

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield July ye 20th 1725

Mr Isaac Peabody is Chosen Moderator for this meeting

voted

The Town Did manifest by a vote that they were willing
to Choose a Committe to make inquiry after & git a Minis-
ter to Dispence the word of God Amongst us for a while

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

1 6

Dea Daniel Redington Dean John Howlett Cle: Elisha
Perkins Serg* Ivory Hovey & En : Amos Dorman are Chosen
a Committe to Procure a Minister or Scholar to Dispence
the word of God amongst us for Ten weeks from this time
& they are to ask advice of the Neighbouring Ministers in
order to the procuring a suitable person for said service
voted and said Commtte are fully impowered to agree with
a minister or Ministers for ye above said service & Term &
the Town will pay the Cost voted

the Town agreed to adjourn this meeting voted

the Moderator Ajourned this meeting till the first Tuseday
of August next at two of the Clock in ye after noon

At A Lawfull Town meeting held by adjournment from ye
20 of July 1725 to the third day of August 1725 and then
met & having Discoursed of how much and in what way to
Contribute towards the funeral Charges of the Reverend
Mr Joseph Capen Deceased, it was generally Concluded that
ye best way was for Every man to subscribe to give what he
Pleasd and Ivory Hovey, Joseph Town, & Thomas Robin-
son are Chosen & Desired by the Town: to go to all the in-
habitants of Topsfield not present: to see what they will
Contribute towards sd Charges voted

Whereas the Church have agreed upon a fast to be kept on
the Eighteenth Currant on ye acount of the awfull breach
that God has Latly made amoungst us by taking away our
Reverend Pastor by Death: as also to implore the Mercies
of heaven for the Obtaining another setteled minister. There-
fore the above named Committe for the Ministry are to see
that suteable provision be made for such reverend ministers
that shall Carry on the work of sd Day or that shall be aiding
or assisting therein and the town will pay the charges thereof

voted

The free holders and other inhabitants of this Town Qualli-
fied according to Law for voting are to take Notice to meet
here at ye Meeting house on Wedensday the fifteenth Day of
September Currant at Twelve of ye Clock on sd Day

6 2

EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN

i To Choose a Committe to see to ye supply of the Pulpit
with one to Dispence the word of God to us: 2ly. To allow
bills of Charge & to Raise a Tax for the Defraying of Nes-
sacery charges

3ly To Choose Jury men to serve at Newbery Court
4ly To see if the Town will give ruls to the Comitte for
seating the People in the Meeting house

John Hovey

Dated Topsfield Sept: 3rd 1725 in ye name & by Order of
Jacob Dorman Constable the rest of ye Selectmen

of Topsfield

At A Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield September ye
15th 1725 1st Mr Isaac Peabody is Chosen Moderator for
this meeting voted

2ly The Town Allowed to Ens : Amos Dorman 7:7:6 he
having Paid five pound to Mr Hale & two pound to Mr
Crocker for Preaching to us since the Revernd Mr Capens
Decease: and for other things he found for ye fast

voted 7:7:6

3ly The Town allowed to Jacob Peabody 1:1:2 it being
for several things for Provision for the fast voted 1:1:2
4ly The Town Allowed to Cler: Elisha Perkins 0:6:6: it
being for sundary things for ye fast voted 0:6:6

5 ly The Town allowed to Serg1 Ivory Hovey 1:5:6 for
sundary things for provision for ye fast voted 1:5:6

61y the Town allowed to Mr John Hovey three shillings
for Lamb & spice for ye fast voted 0:3 :0

y\y the Town allowed to Dea: John Howlett four shillings
& Eleven pence for several things for the fast voted 0:4:11
81y The Town allowed Nine shillings & six pence to Nath11
Capen for victualing several Ministers on Sabath day 0:9:6
9ly Sergt Thomas Robinson & John Town are Chosen to
serve on ye Jury of Tryals at the next inferiour Court to be
holden at Newbery for & within ye County of Essex voted
ioly The former Committe for the Ministry viz Dea : Dan-
iel Redington Dea: John Howlett Cler: Elisha Perkins Ens
Amos Dorman & Sergt Ivory Hovey are Chosen again to
Procure and agree with a Minister to Dispence the word of
God unto us untill the first of Janry next Ensuing voted

OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

163

illy The Town agreed that ye present Selectmen should
Levie a Tax of one hundred and twenty pounds for ye De-
fraying of ye necessary Charges of the Town voted

Boston 31st May 1725
Recd of Mr Eliezar Lake Constable of P Zacheus Gould
Topsfield ffifty one pounds in full for my
Master Jer. Allen Treasurer

this is a True Copy attest Jacob Peabody Clerk P george
Rogers

Where as Jacob Peabody was Chosen Clerk for the pro-
prietors of the Late Divided & of the undivided Common
Land in Topsfield on ye sixth of December 1725: he was
sworn to ye faithfull Discharge of sd office before ye Select-
men of sd Town on ye same Day

At a Lawfull Town meeting in Topsfield November Ist 1725
1st Cap1 Joseph Gould is Chosen Moderator for this meeting

voted

2ly Mr Isaac Peabody En : Amos Dorman & Jacob Pea-
body are Chosen a Committe to Reckon with Madam Pris-
cilla Capen and Adjust all the accompts that are betwixt her
and ye Town Refering to ye Reverend Mr Capens Sallery &
make report thereof to the Town in convenient time

3ly The Town agreed that the intrest of the Towns Loan
money shall go to pay ye towns debts voted

The present Selectmen are impowered to receive sd intrest
of ye Trustees & Dispose of it to ye aforesd use voted

4ly The Town allowed to Ens Amos Dorman five pounds
five shillings he having paid so much to Mr Osgood for
Preaching so amoungst us three Sabath Days voted 5:5:0
5ly The Town allowed to Jacob Averill three shillings &
six pence for slabs to mend the bridges near to Dean John
Howletts voted 0:3:6

61y The Town Allowed to Daniel Gould two shillings & six
pence for two Logs to mend the bridge near to Mr John Ca-
pens house voted 0:2:6

7ly The Town Allowed to Jacob Peabody three shillings
for Timber to mend ye bridge near his house 0:3:0

EARLY RECORDS OF TOPSFIELD.

164

Sly The Town Allowed to Mrs Mary Baker two shillings &
six pence for Timber to mend the Bridge near to Mr Jacob
Dormans house voted 0:2:6

9ly The Town allowed to Sam11 Smith four shillings for
Timber to mend ye highways voted 0:4:0

ioly The Town allowed to Corp1 Jacob Robinson one shil-
ling for timber for sd use voted 0:1:0

illy The Town allowed to Cap* John How two shillings
& six pence for timber to mend ye Bridge near Mr Clarks
house voted 0:2:6

I2ly The Town allowed to Capt Joseph Gould & Dean John
Howlett twelve shillings for their trouble in taking in ye intrest
of ye Towns Loan money for ye year past voted 0:12:0
1 3ly The Town agreed to fence in all ye Parsonage Land
in Topsfield according to ye same rule & by the same Ten
years Rates that the last Division of Common Land in Tops-
field was divided by, voted further the Town agreed that sd
Parsonage Land should be fenced in by ye first day of June
next with a Good sufficient fence voted

14 Mr Nath11 Porter Mr Eliezer Lake and Jacob Peabody

are Chosen a committe to apportion and set to Every man
his Proportion to fence about said Parsonage Land according
to the Rule that is above expresed voted

15 Mr Nath Porter is Chosen a Trustee in ye room of Cap*

Thos Baker Deceased voted

We the Subscribers the Committees respectively Chosen
appointed by the Towns of Ipswich and Topsfield, to Peram-
bulate the Line and renew the bounds between the sd Towns :
have accordingly performed the said service, by Peambulat-
ing the Line and renewing the Bounds aforesaid ; having new
marked ye Trees afore marked on ye Line and heaving more
stones to the old heaps on the said Line. Witness our hands
the Day of novem : anno Domini 1725

John Hovey > for Jonathan Wade

Thomas Gould $ Topsfield Nathaniel Hart

Phillip Fowler

for

Ipswich

A True Copy of the
Clerk

return attest Jacob Peabody Town

{To be continued .)

VITAL STATISTICS OF TOPSFIELD, MASS.

FOR THE YEAR 191O.

BIRTHS.

1910.

Jan. 11. June Elizabeth, dau. of Warren T. and Grace A. (Frame) Tilton.

Jan. 21. Francesca, dau. of Paul and Lucia (Le Caporal) La Cassesse.

Feb. 5. Fanny Forester, dau. of Hiram L. and Mary L. (Murphy) Clay.

Feb. 27. Irene Catherine, dau. of Melvin H. and Beatrice M. (Donnelly) Hicks.
Mar. 12. Hazen Rogers, sou of Hazen R. and Mary E. (Deickhoff) Wildes.
Mar. 13. Guiseppi, son of Alphonse and Grazia (Paglia) Roberto.

Apr. 2 Robert Brooks, son of Charles R. and Anne H. (Edwards) Wait.
May 13. Henry Pingree, son of Henry F. and Margaret (Pingree) Long.

May 14. Stanley Dexter, son of Thomas W. and Gabrielle M. (Dexter) Peirce.
May 18. Ruth Ashton, dau. of Fred E. and Hattie E. (Fuller) Watson.

July 29. Mary Elizabeth, dau. of George T. and Elizabeth (Cherry) Beech.
Aug. 5. Clifford Carroll, son of Lewis H. and Elizabeth W.(Carroll) Williams.
Aug. 30. Francesco, son of David and Gesulda (Abbadessa) Gangi.

Oct. 2. Dorothy Pearl, dau. of Ira R. and Callie A. (Clarke) Andrews.

Oct. 8. Walter Archibald, son of James and Ellen (Stoddard) Wood
Nov. 26. Helen Pingree, dau. of Franklin and Helen K. (Smith) Balch.

(165)

66

VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1910.

1910.

Feb. 22.

J uly 6.
Aug. 29.
Nov. 7.

1910.

Jan.

19.

Jan.

31-

Feb.

6.

Mar.

13*

Mar.

19.

Mar.

22.

Apr.

SI-

Apr.

22.

Apr.

22.

May

24.

July

3-

July

IO.

MARRIAGES.

f Harry E. Lake (Topsfield), son of Otto E. and Flora E. (Adams)
Lake.

] Laura A. Liming (Dedham), dau. of Christopher and Drusilla
t (Ream) Liming.

f Charles A. Pingree (Georgetown), son of Charles H. and Lucy S.
J (Harris) Pingree.

| Mary L. Woodbury (Topsfield), dau. of Isaac M. and Sarah K.
[ (Leach) Woodbury.

f Benjamin D. Hodges (Topsfield), son of Benjamin and Maria R.
(Reynolds) Hodges.

j Virginia C. Reynolds (Topsfield), son of Mark and Elizabeth
[ (Anderson) Reynolds.

f Walter Farnham (Beverly), son of Charles H. and Lucy (Simpson)
J Farnham.

1 Ada M. Phillips (Topsfield), dau. of William N. and Matilda A.
(Davis) White.

DEATHS.

Abby Eliza, wife of Stephen M. Pierce and dau. of Thomas and
Elizabeth (Merrill) Perkins, aged 64 yrs., 9 mos., 4 dys.

Mary J., widow of John C. Williams and dau. of and

(Craig) Harding, aged 73 yrs.

Frank Alonzo Lord, son of Nathaniel A. and Helen A. (Chamberlain)
Lord, aged 54 yrs., 4 mos., 1 day.

Rebecca Eveline, wife of John B. Lake and dau. of Nathaniel and
Pamelia (Gould) Dorman, aged 80 yrs., 9 mos., 20 dys.

Alfred F. Tilton, son of Josiah B. and Nancy (Adams) Tilton, aged
74 yrs., 1 1 mos.

Willaim Perkins, son of Hezekiah B. and Lydia (Ross) Perkins, aged
87 yrs., 5 mos., 18 dys.

Silas Roberts Burnham, son of Ansell and Elizabeth (Roberts) Burn-
ham, aged 60 yrs., 6 mos., 4 dys.

Hulda F. Pike, dau. of Benjamin and Hulda (Dorman) Pike, aged
74 yrs., 4 dys.

Eliza Ann, widow of Alonzo Kneeland and dau. of Moses and Mary
(Mason) Welch, aged 75 yrs., 10 months., 22 dys.

Mabel A., wife of Fred G. Smith and dau. of Calvin W. and Harriet
(Gould) Fuller, aged 33 yrs., 16 dys.

Ephraim Perkins, son of Jacob and Mary (Pratt) Perkins, aged 86
yrs., 6 mos., 27 dys.

Thomas M. Aitchison, son of Thomas M. and Bella (Aitchison),
Aitchison, aged 24 yrs., 1 mo., 27 dys.

VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1910.

167

July 18. Mary Gammell, dau. of John and Emily (Dechman) Gammell, aged
43 yrs., 5 mos.. 12 dys.

July 24. Gilbert B. Balch, son of Humphrey and Hannah P. (Bradstreet)
Balch, aged 54 years 5 mos., 15 dys.

Aug. 5. Henry Ware Lake, son of David and Harriet (Wilkins) Lake, aged 72
yrs., 4 mos., 28 dys.

Sept. 5. Isaac B. Young, son of Isaac and Delia (Tobin) Young, aged 73 yrs.,
8 mos., 4 dys.

Sept. 7. Ruth Ashton, dau. of Fred E. and Hattie E. (Fuller) Watson, aged 3
mos., 11 dys.

Oct. 27. Mabel Frances, wife of Albert C. Dick and dau. of Edwin and Sarah
(Moore) Adams, aged 44 yrs., 2 mos., 17 dys.

Oct. 28. Amelia Carr Skaden, dau. of Joseph C. and Jane (Saxbury) Skaden,
aged 81 yrs.

Nov. 21. Henry R. M. White, son of Manley and Mary Ann M. (White)
White, aged 81 yrs., 2 mos., 5 dys.

Nov. 28. Elizabeth Hanson, dau. of Thomas A. B. and Elizabeth (Hanson)
Norris, aged 36 yrs., 9 mos., 23 dys.

Deaths in other places, Interment in Topifield.

1910.

Jan. 26. Joseph Towne, died in Lynn, Mass., aged 84 yrs.

Jan. 28. Annie S. Lamson, died in Hamilton, Mass., aged 68 yrs., 6 mos., 22 dys.
Mar. 12. Alice M. Fuller, died in No. Reading, Mass., aged 39 yrs.

Mar. 28. Benjamin Potter, died in Danvers, Mass., aged 34 yrs.

Apr. 1. Elizabeth H. Lake, died in Peabody, Mass., aged 72 yrs., 9 mos., 4 dys.
May 2. Florence M. Kirk, died in Danvers, Mass., aged 34 yrs.

June 4. William B. Perkins, died in Middleton, Mass., aged 72 yrs., 3 mos.,
30 dys.

June 25. Victoria A. Harris, died in Waltham, Mass., aged 53 yrs., 1 mo., 25 dys.
July 12. Augustus T. Billings, died in Malden, Mass., aged 68 yrs., 6
mos., 4 dys.

Aug. 8. Chester M. Striley, died in Salem, Mass., aged 27 yrs., 8 mos., 10 dys.
Sept. 20. Herbert P. Woodbury, Jr., died in Malden, Mass.

Sept. 24. Carrol Mellish Woodbury, died in Malden, Mass., aged 30 yrs.,
9 mos., 28 dys.

Dec. 12. Edgar Richardson Walsh, died in Salem, Mass., aged 4 dys.

Dec. 19. Mary Elizabeth Lovett, died in Lawrence, Mass., aged 63 yrs.,
5 mos., 16 dys.

68

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, I9IO.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS IN TOPSFIELD IN 1910.

1910.

February 22.
April.

July 9.
Sept. 20-21.
October 1.
October.

Streets first lighted by electricity.

David Cummings, of Somerville, descended from Topsfield ances-
tors, bequeathed to the town of Topsfield, for its poor, $4,000 ;
for the care of the South Side Cemetery, $1,000; and to the
Topsfield Historical Society, $2,000.

Thomas Aitchison, a carpenter employed on the Pentecost estate,
was drowned at Poor’s Point, Hood’s Pond.

Annual cattle show and fair of the Essex Agricultural Society
held in Topsfield on the grounds of the Society.

The post office in Topsfield advanced in grade to the presidential
class.

Great drought ; 28 families at one time depending upon the town
pump for their water supply.

BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED DURING THE YEAR 1910.

James M. Marsh, Boston St.; residence and garage.

William E. Northey, Prospect St.; addition and alterations to dwelling-house.
Henry F. Long, Summer St.; dwelling-house.

Isaac M. Woodbury, off Haverhill St.; ice-house.

Henry H. Roberts, Main St.; wood-working and carpenters’ shop.

George L. Gould, Washington St. ; garage.

C. Harry Shoemaker, Ipswich St. ; addition to dwelling-house.

Charles P. Potter, off Central St. ; carpenters’ shop and store-house.

Charles V. Jackman, Pemberton Ave. ; house and bakeshop for Italians.

Bradley W. Palmer, Asbury St.; stable-garage.

John S. Lawrence, Ipswich St.; addition to dwelling-house.

Mrs. Lucretia Smith, River St.; addition to dwelling-house.

Mrs. Susan I. Perkins, Washington St.; addition to dwelling-house.

Dr. Edward C. Streeter, Asbury St. ; addition to dwelling-house.

Thomas E. Proctor, Perkins St. ; the Donaldson barn and out-buildings taken
down.